San Benito County Birding: A Short Drive

Howdy, Birders,

Late this afternoon, February 20th, I made a short drive around the Hollister area. A CASSIN'S KINGBIRD, below, was at John Smith Road. A dark morph FERRUGINOUS HAWK was near the intersection of John Smith Road and Santa Ana Valley Road. The usual grassland species were around, including quite a few LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES. 

I am delighted to report that San Benito County's most reliable nesting pair of BALD EAGLES have begun incubation! One eagle was sitting in the nest today. I could not be certain if it was the male or female because the bird is very low in the nest and only the top of the head was showing. This nest was discovered in 2004. Its whereabouts is kept secret to protect the birds. They have successfully raised two young every year, except one since 2004. I will keep you posted on this year's outcome!

Happy Trails,

Debi Shearwater

San Benito County Birding

SAN BENITO COUNTY BIRDING: HOLLISTER NAPA SHARP-SHINNED HAWK

Howdy, Birders,

You know sometimes the birds are wherever you find them! Yesterday, I was driving through downtown Hollister, when I saw this SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (Accipiter striatius) sitting on a street lamp along a side street. Hung a fast right turn around the block, parked and jumped out with my camera.
Crossed the street to get the sun behind me. Meanwhile, cars were zipping by, ump-pah or salsa music blaring in the streets. It seemed to me that the sharpie was unfazed by all of this, although it was paying attention.
However, I've been noticing how much raptors really dislike having a human being looking directly at them. Eye to eye contact is not something they seem to care for.
It wasn't until I got home and downloaded my images that I discovered that this little sweetie was not a happy camper! As one of my friends pointed out, "It looks like there's some foot stomping going on there!"
Arthur C. Bent's "Life Histories of North American Birds of Prey" describes this bird as thus: "This bold and dashing little hawk, the terror of all small birds and the audacious murderer of young chickens, is widely distributed in North America. It has been well called a bushwacker from its habit of beating stealthily about the shrubbery to the fatal surprise of many a little songster."
Well, that's a fairly fierce look in the eyeball of this little gem! The location is shown in the image, below, quite near the NAPA auto parts store at East and Fourth Streets in Hollister. It seems that birds are often quite habitual, especially raptors. So, if you find yourself in Hollister, drive by or stop at the NAPA store.

This was to be just the beginning of an outrageous day for birds of prey. Stay tuned.

Happy Trails,

Debi Shearwater

San Benito Birding

All images copyright, Debi Shearwater.

Please ask permission to use.

San Benito County Birding Report

Howdy, Birders,

This is a late report of some birds in San Benito County.

PAICINES RESERVOIR has had a good selection of waterfowl: up to 14 HOODED MERGANSERS (25 Nov), 250+ COMMON MERGANSERS (all days), 12 RING-NECKED DUCKS (11 Dec), and other usual species, including WHITE PELICANS (3-5); EARED, PIED-BILLED, WESTERN and CLARK'S GREBES. Raptors present have included the adult BALD EAGLES, off and on, usually perched in the oak grove, with both male and female present (26 Nov); PRAIRIE FALCON, usually perched on the double power tower on the far side (25, 26 Nov; 11 Dec); MERLIN, usually perched in the far leafless trees (I saw one eat a red-winged blackbird, 11 Dec); and NORTHERN HARRIER (11 Dec). TREE/VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS (3) were present on 12 Dec. Reasonable numbers of shorebirds have been present, including: LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (up to 25 most days); LEAST SANDPIPER (up to 22 most days); WESTERN SANDPIPER ( 1 on 26 Nov; 2 on 12 Dec); BLACK-NECKED STILT (1 on 19 Dec); SPOTTED SANDPIPER (1 on 12 Dec, unusual in winter). Geese have included: CANADA, CACKLING (2 on 12 Dec), and WHITE-FRONTED (22 on 12 Dec).

HOLLISTER SEWER PONDS: I visited the sewer ponds on 10 Dec. Birding is abysmal, as there is precious little water. Shorebirding is next to nil. The best place for shorebirds is at Paicines Reservoir. Two COMMON GOLDENEYES were just about the only birds of note.

PANOCHE VALLEY: At Summit Ranch Pond, I noted one DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, which I do not believe I have ever seen at this pond. (Reasonable numbers of cormorants are at Paicines Reservoir). Panoche Valley was socked in with fog on 12 December, even in mid-day. On Panoche Road near the school, both a dark-morph FERRUGINOUS HAWK and PRAIRIE FALCON were present. Another PRAIRIE FALCON was present on Recalde Road, along with a few MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS. Near Silver Creek Ranch, small numbers of MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS, AMERICAN PIPITS, and 3 VESPER SPARROWS were present. At Shotgun Pass, an immature GOLDEN EAGLE was hunting ground squirrels, as it perched on rocks, and 2 ROCK WRENS were in the pass itself. I found no mountain plovers or kingbirds.

BROWN'S VALLEY ROAD: On Dec 12, two BURROWING OWLS and one SHORT-EARED OWL were present. On Dec 11, two BURROWING OWLS and a MERLIN were present.

PINNACLES NATIONAL MONUMENT: On December 11, I found 5 CALIFORNIA CONDORS (2 were soaring, while 3 were perched in a large pine tree on the ridge); one ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER in the campground, along with the usual resident suspects.

GLORIA ROAD: On 25 Nov, I birded this road, and found most of the usual resident and winter birds. Highlights included: more than 20 LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES, 12 BELL'S SAGE SPARROWS, 1 HUTTON'S VIREO, and 1 PHAINOPEPLA.

FREMONT PEAK STATE PARK: On 10 Dec, near the top of San Juan Canyon road, at the entrance to the park. very large flocks were encountered, including 100+ CEDAR WAXWINGS, HERMIT THRUSH, AMERICAN ROBINS, and 2 EVENING GROSBEAKS (very few records for San Benito County of this species). A male TOWNSEND'S WARBLER and a BROWN CREEPER were in the oaks near the campground. Finally, a BOBCAT was scampering along the hillside. Images are at:

http://shearwaterjourneys.blogspot.com/2010/12/sbt-county-bobcat.html

HOLLISTER: On 14 Dec, from my front yard, I heard an EVENING GROSBEAK calling in a grove of trees near the intersection of Hilltop and Clearview Roads.

Sorry this report is so late, however some of the species are worth mentioning.

Happy Holidays to all,

Debi Shearwater

Coolin' Cooper's in my backyard

Howdy, Birders,

It was 106 F the past two days, in Hollister! I was surprised to see this COOPER'S HAWK sitting on the birdbath in my backyard. Maybe, I shouldn't have been.

It took a long time for it to begin to think about cooling off in the water!
Finally, in the bath. It never did splish and splash, though!
It kept eyeballing the sky. I could not see what it might be looking at— perhaps another hawk?
Finally, the Cooper's Hawk saw something that made it take off. It was never bothered by me, although it was calling with whining whistles and chirp notes.

While working in my office, today, I saw her snatch two House Sparrows!

Coop's forever,

Debi Shearwater

San Benito County Birding

All images copyright Debi Shearwater.

SBT COUNTY BIRDING: RAINING SPECKLED BELLIES!

Hello, Birders,

A surprise find at PAICINES RESERVOIR, this morning was a flock of 51 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, circling over the water while I was parking my car. As I stepped out of the car, the sounds of these beautiful geese were ringing loudly in the air. Scoping the reservoir, counting one by one, I finally tallied 245 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE! This is a record high count for San Benito County. The previous high count was 77, recorded by Sam Fitton on 8 October 2001, also at Paicines Reservoir. Part of the flock is in my image, below:

New for me at this location, was a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. A male CALIFORNIA QUAIL was standing on the fence. He joined his mate and half a dozen small chicks. I was surprised to see chicks this small so late in the season, although I have heard that they nested late this year.

On Santa Ana Valley road, a PRAIRIE FALCON was on a telephone pole. At Vista Park Hill in downtown Hollister, a single WESTERN WOOD PEEWEE was present. I could not find any Red-breasted Nuthatches. First of the fall, LINCOLN'S SPARROW was at the Hollister sewer ponds. Otherwise, the ponds were extremely dull. At the Hollister industrial ponds, 928 NORTHERN SHOVELERS were present.

A short morning of birding in San Benito County!

Speckle bellies forever,

Debi Shearwater