Some fall birding highlights in San Benito County on Thursday, August 20th included:
PAICINES RESERVOIR:
Bald Eagle- 1 male, adult, sitting in the oak grove on the west side of the reservoir
Semipalmated Plover- 3
California gull- 1
WILLOW FLYCATCHER- 1, in the single willow tree in the reservoir (no water surrounding the tree)- first of the fall in the county
Cassin's Kingbird - 1
Western Kingbird- 2, both species were hawking insects at the edge of the reservoir
TRES PINOS town:
At some hummingbird feeders:
COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD- 1
Black-chinned Hummingbird- 10
Allen's/Rufous Hummingbird-1
Anna's Hummingbird- 50
QUIEN SABE ROAD:
Golden Eagle- 1 adult
PRAIRIE FALCON- 1, eating prey as it sat on the telephone pole
SAN FELIPE LAKE:
Burrowing Owl- 14
Canada Goose- 600-800, high counts
MARBLED GODWIT- 2
PECTORAL SANDPIPER- 3
Least Sandpiper- 200
Western Sandpiper- 20
"peep" sp.- 130
American Avocet- 38
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER- 1
HOLLISTER INDUSTRIAL PONDS:
Spotted Sandpiper- 1
Northern Shoveler- 50
HOLLISTER SEWER PONDS:
Wilson's Phalarope- 9
Sharp-shinned Hawk- 1
The Hollister Sewer ponds are now open to birders, usually from 7:30 am until 4:30 pm. It is necessary to check in at the office prior to driving around the ponds. The is precious little shorebird habitat at both the sewer ponds and the industrial ponds. However, shorebird habitat is the best that I have ever seen at San Felipe Lake, locally known as Soap Lake. Shorebird habitat is also very good at Paicines Reservoir. These are the two best places in the county to look for shorebirds at this time.
Good birding,
Debi
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