Birdathon Spring 2009
The Varied Twitchers
Saturday 18 April 2009
Friends & family,
I have bad news and good news about this year's birdathon. The bad news is that I came down sick Friday afternoon and sadly was not able to complete the birdathon. I left the team at 2pm yesterday and headed home and straight for bed where I slept off & on for probably sixteen hours, trying to fight this cold/flu thing.
The good news is that even with doing "only" a half-birdathon I still managed to see 120 species! And we saw some amazing birds: A Saw-whet Owl sitting in a douglas fir right over our heads (this is a life bird for me). Common Poorwills flitting past in the pre-dawn - we had to hike three miles into the wilderness of Monte Bello Open Space Preserve for this treat. A Brandt's Cormorant sitting forlornly on the mudflats - this is an oceanic bird that was blown in in last week's windstorm. A hybrid duck: Shoveler-cross-Blue-winged Teal (which one do we count it as?). And a Great-tailed Grackle flying over the cattails - grackles only recently spread their range into Santa Clara County. The weather was perfect for the day, and as of 2pm we were on track for an exceptional day of birding.
Mike Rogers should be sending a full trip report sometime soon, and I will forward that to all of you. I'm hoping that they saw an amazing array of birds in the second half.
Thanks so much for supporting me in my crazy adventure. I will send more information on in the next couple days.
Sincerely,
Barry
~
Birds seen so far
Canada Goose (√) Apr 18 2009 9:40:14 AM,
Wood Duck (√) Apr 18 2009 10:42:40 AM,
Gadwall (√) Apr 18 2009 12:12:48 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
American Wigeon (√) Apr 18 2009 1:24:32 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Mallard (h) Apr 18 2009 3:58:41 AM,
Northern Shoveler (√) Apr 18 2009 1:03:30 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353) X blue-winged teal
Northern Pintail (√) Apr 18 2009 1:27:20 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Green-winged Teal (√) Apr 18 2009 12:05:41 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Greater Scaup (√) Apr 18 2009 12:11:42 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Lesser Scaup (√) Apr 18 2009 12:07:34 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Common Goldeneye (√) Apr 18 2009 9:41:54 AM,
Hooded Merganser (√) Apr 18 2009 9:41:47 AM,
Common Merganser (√) Apr 18 2009 10:47:00 AM,
Ruddy Duck (√) Apr 18 2009 12:10:19 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Ring-necked Pheasant (√) Apr 18 2009 12:19:41 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Wild Turkey (h) Apr 18 2009 6:07:10 AM,
California Quail (√) Apr 18 2009 8:17:27 AM,
Western Grebe (√) Apr 18 2009 10:36:44 AM,
Clark's Grebe (√) Apr 18 2009 12:35:41 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
American White Pelican (√) Apr 18 2009 12:23:38 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Brandt's Cormorant (√) Apr 18 2009 12:47:24 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Double-crested Cormorant (√) Apr 18 2009 10:36:52 AM,
Great Blue Heron (√) Apr 18 2009 12:36:00 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Snowy Egret (√) Apr 18 2009 12:03:26 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Turkey Vulture (√) Apr 18 2009 8:07:29 AM,
Osprey (√) Apr 18 2009 10:19:40 AM,
Northern Harrier (√) Apr 18 2009 12:29:42 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Cooper's Hawk (√) Apr 18 2009 10:18:06 AM,
Red-shouldered Hawk (√) Apr 18 2009 9:53:10 AM,
Red-tailed Hawk (√) Apr 18 2009 9:13:51 AM,
Virginia Rail (h) Apr 18 2009 5:08:40 AM,
Sora (h) Apr 18 2009 4:15:47 AM,
American Coot (√) Apr 18 2009 12:03:19 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Black-bellied Plover (√) Apr 18 2009 12:30:13 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Semipalmated Plover (√) Apr 18 2009 12:31:47 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Killdeer (√) Apr 18 2009 9:43:59 AM,
American Avocet (√) Apr 18 2009 12:17:24 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Willet (√) Apr 18 2009 12:05:31 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Marbled Godwit (√) Apr 18 2009 12:30:58 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Black-necked Stilt (h) Apr 18 2009 3:56:11 AM,
Least Sandpiper (h) Apr 18 2009 4:10:28 AM,
Short-billed Dowitcher (√) Apr 18 2009 12:33:05 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353) Or long
Ring-billed Gull (√) Apr 18 2009 12:09:00 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
California Gull (√) Apr 18 2009 12:14:50 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Glaucous-winged Gull (√) Apr 18 2009 12:09:55 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Forster's Tern (h,√) Apr 18 2009 12:31:09 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Rock Pigeon (√) Apr 18 2009 9:20:37 AM,
Band-tailed Pigeon (h) Apr 18 2009 6:29:07 AM, Saw 6:37
Mourning Dove (h) Apr 18 2009 6:03:43 AM,
Barn Owl (h) Apr 18 2009 5:29:00 AM,
Western Screech-Owl (h) Apr 18 2009 5:14:11 AM,
Great Horned Owl (h) Apr 18 2009 5:36:53 AM,
Northern Saw-whet Owl (h,√) Apr 18 2009 5:30:47 AM,
Common Poorwill (h) Apr 18 2009 5:51:34 AM,
Anna's Hummingbird (√) Apr 18 2009 7:21:15 AM, ???
Acorn Woodpecker (h) Apr 18 2009 6:07:18 AM,
Nuttall's Woodpecker (h) Apr 18 2009 8:09:05 AM,
Hairy Woodpecker (h) Apr 18 2009 6:30:14 AM,
Northern Flicker (√) Apr 18 2009 6:40:15 AM,
Pacific-slope Flycatcher (h) Apr 18 2009 6:45:29 AM,
Black Phoebe (h) Apr 18 2009 3:56:43 AM,
Ash-throated Flycatcher (h,√) Apr 18 2009 8:35:07 AM,
Cassin's Vireo (h,√) Apr 18 2009 10:57:18 AM,
Hutton's Vireo (h) Apr 18 2009 6:28:40 AM,
Warbling Vireo (h) Apr 18 2009 8:59:55 AM,
Steller's Jay (h) Apr 18 2009 5:39:12 AM, Coyote
Western Scrub-Jay (h) Apr 18 2009 6:04:41 AM,
American Crow (√) Apr 18 2009 9:37:12 AM,
Common Raven (h) Apr 18 2009 6:29:52 AM,
Tree Swallow (√) Apr 18 2009 12:09:06 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Violet-green Swallow (√) Apr 18 2009 9:07:44 AM,
Nor. Rough-winged Swallow (h,√) Apr 18 2009 9:21:01 AM,
Cliff Swallow (√) Apr 18 2009 10:43:18 AM,
Barn Swallow (√) Apr 18 2009 10:44:30 AM,
Chestnut-backed Chickadee (h) Apr 18 2009 6:54:40 AM,
Oak Titmouse (h) Apr 18 2009 6:21:28 AM,
Bushtit (h) Apr 18 2009 10:11:41 AM,
White-breasted Nuthatch (√) Apr 18 2009 9:17:24 AM,
Pygmy Nuthatch (h) Apr 18 2009 7:38:43 AM,
Brown Creeper (h) Apr 18 2009 6:48:39 AM, Seen 7:04
Bewick's Wren (h) Apr 18 2009 6:01:44 AM,
House Wren (h) Apr 18 2009 11:41:21 AM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Winter Wren (h) Apr 18 2009 6:56:44 AM,
Marsh Wren (h) Apr 18 2009 4:17:26 AM,
American Dipper (√) Apr 18 2009 11:15:17 AM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (h) Apr 18 2009 8:58:55 AM, driving down montebello
Western Bluebird (√) Apr 18 2009 8:42:41 AM,
Hermit Thrush (h) Apr 18 2009 6:00:49 AM,
American Robin (h) Apr 18 2009 6:00:26 AM,
Varied Thrush (h,√) Apr 18 2009 7:12:57 AM,
Wrentit (h) Apr 18 2009 5:59:26 AM,
Northern Mockingbird (h) Apr 18 2009 9:39:27 AM,
California Thrasher (h) Apr 18 2009 5:59:48 AM,
European Starling (√) Apr 18 2009 9:27:02 AM,
Cedar Waxwing (h,√) Apr 18 2009 11:37:43 AM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Orange-crowned Warbler (h) Apr 18 2009 7:44:05 AM,
Yellow-rumped Warbler (√) Apr 18 2009 8:18:13 AM,
Black-throated Gray Warbler (h) Apr 18 2009 6:28:57 AM,
Wilson's Warbler (h) Apr 18 2009 9:03:31 AM,
Western Tanager (h) Apr 18 2009 7:26:09 AM,
Spotted Towhee (h) Apr 18 2009 5:57:22 AM,
California Towhee (h) Apr 18 2009 6:04:35 AM,
Song Sparrow (h) Apr 18 2009 5:09:05 AM,
Lincoln's Sparrow (√) Apr 18 2009 8:10:52 AM,
White-crowned Sparrow (√) Apr 18 2009 8:13:27 AM,
Golden-crowned Sparrow (h) Apr 18 2009 8:38:09 AM,
Dark-eyed Junco (h) Apr 18 2009 6:01:56 AM,
Black-headed Grosbeak (h) Apr 18 2009 6:33:08 AM, Seen 6:37
Red-winged Blackbird (h) Apr 18 2009 4:08:05 AM,
Brewer's Blackbird (√) Apr 18 2009 9:40:38 AM,
Great-tailed Grackle (√) Apr 18 2009 1:09:54 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Brown-headed Cowbird (h) Apr 18 2009 9:14:31 AM,
Hooded Oriole (√) Apr 18 2009 12:13:43 PM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Bullock's Oriole (√) Apr 18 2009 11:27:32 AM, (+37.273371, -122.082353)
Purple Finch (h) Apr 18 2009 6:26:16 AM, Flyover
House Finch (√) Apr 18 2009 9:10:04 AM,
Lesser Goldfinch (h,√) Apr 18 2009 10:02:29 AM, Earlier
American Goldfinch (√) Apr 18 2009 9:07:55 AM,
House Sparrow (h) Apr 18 2009 9:48:15 AM,
Downy Woodpecker
Total number of species: 120