SAN BENITO COUNTY BIRDING: SANTA ANA VALLEY ROAD

ROLL OUT THE RAPTORS—

EAGLES, PRAIRIE FALCONS BURROWING OWLS—

AND, CONDORS, OH MY!

Howdy, Birders,

Many of you know that driving the Santa Ana Valley Road, San Benito County is my "relaxation" drive from the post office to my home in Hollister. For the past two days, I've made that loop, sometimes including John Smith Road or Quien Sabe Road. Being mid-August, I was a bit surprised to see raptors already staking their positions for the coming fall. Plenty of GOLDEN EAGLES around!

 The immature GOLDEN EAGLE, below has a full crop. Hunting is already starting to look good.

 Next, I spot an immature BALD EAGLE, below. 

 These birds, along with a lot of TURKEY VULTURES were hanging around the "Eastern Phoebe Spot," if you know where that is. It is a labeled eBird location. 

 Next, an adult BALD EAGLE appears. Timing is everything. If you arrive just as the air is warming and the last bits of fog rise, it is possible to witness "lift off" of the raptors.

 This PRAIRIE FALCON, below, has already staked its spot. Please do NOT harass this bird by making it fly repeatedly for "your" flight shots! The bird has to eat and rest. And, I know who you are. I'm watching you!

BURROWING OWLS nested this year in these rapidly disappearing grasslands. 

 

Finally, toady, after seeing so many eagles and turkey vultures, I spotted this distant image of a raptor flying with flat wings, high in the sky, Humm, another eagle. Then, I look through my bins, and think, "Dang, what eagle IS this?" Then, "Oops, it is an adult CALIFORNIA CONDOR, all but in my backyard!"

 I shot off a few frames, then looked at the images on my camera. But, when I looked up, again, the bird was nowhere in sight. That was that. Below, the "fingers" show. This condor was near the intersection of Santa Ana Valley and Quien Sabe Roads at 12:47 pm, today.

 Scooting on down the road in disbelief, I found this adult GOLDEN EAGLE, drinking from a cattle water trough. It even tried to get in to take a bath. I was hoping that I wouldn't have to save it from drowning. Apparently, there is some sort of blocking boards, or something, to prevent that. 

The RAPTORS OF SANTA ANA VALLEY ARE RETURNING. 

Certainly, I did not see as many individuals at this time, as I hope to see as the fall and winter seasons progress. In fact, very few kestrels and red-tailed hawks and loggerhead shrikes are around. A few CASSIN'S and WESTERN KINGBIRDS are still hawking insects, though. Amazingly, I saw adult Cassin's Kingbirds feeding young in Tres Pinos town. Seems late for that.

I'll keep you posted regarding the raptor happenings.

Sorry for my poor quality images. All of them were made during the hottest part of the day and most of the raptors, including the condor, were at least a mile away.

Happy Trails,

Debi Shearwater

San Benito County Birding

SAN BENITO COUNTY BIRDING: SANTA ANA VALLEY ROAD

Howdy, Birders,

In San Benito County, today, I made a short spin around Santa Ana Valley Road. The EASTERN PHOEBE continues in the same location as previously described.
Today, the phoebe was foraging right along the road, even on the ground of the road shoulder. It was making a call note. Both BLACK and SAY'S PHOEBES were also in the area.

A flock of 30+ AMERICAN PIPITS were also feeding on the shoulder of the road. Guess there was something good to eat there.

The usual raptors were in the area, including this female AMERICAN KESTREL, below. One immature BALD EAGLE was soaring overhead.
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES were out. It was a beautiful, warm sunny day.

I'll end the year with my favorite buteo, FERRUGINOUS HAWK, below.

Wishing you Happy Trails filled with lots of birds for 2012!

Hope to see you out there,

Debi Shearwater

San Benito Birding

All images copyright, Debi Shearwater.

Please ask for permission to use.

SAN BENITO COUNTY BIRDING: EASTERN PHOEBE RETURNS DECEMBER 10, 2011

Howdy, Birders,

The EASTERN PHOEBE which was present most of this past winter, has returned to the same location at Santa Ana Valley Road, San Benito County. Birding Santa Ana Valley so often for raptors over the past weeks, I've made it a habit to swing by the spot where I last saw the Eastern Phoebe on March 23, 2011.

At 1015 hrs today, there it was, flycatching from the lower limbs of this deciduous tree!

While I was there the Eastern Phoebe was hawking insects in the ditch and disked fields near mailbox numbers 3080 and 3065 on the side of the road opposite the houses. Both Black and Say's Phoebes were also in the neighborhood. Please pull completely off the road and respect private property. There is plenty of space along the roadside for parking.

On my way home, I first spotted this male PHAINOPEPLA on Sunset Street, only a few blocks from my house in Hollister. This was at 1050 hrs. It was mainly working a substantial group of trees loaded with mistletoe on Junniper and Iris Streets and Oak and Iris Streets, all in Hollister, relatively near Hazel Hawkins Hospital.

All images copyright, Debi Shearwater.

Happy Trails,

Debi Shearwater

San Benito County Birding

SAN BENITO COUNTY BIRDING: RAPTORS WATCHING RAPTORS

Howdy, Birders,

Raptors are watching raptors! If you've been out to Santa Ana Valley Road in San Benito County to see the feeding raptors, you probably noticed that bulging area below the throat, near the upper neck. Well, that's a bird with a full crop, meaning that it just had a nice, big, tasty meal! Birds of prey also notice that! When a raptor sees another bird with a full crop it indicates that food is nearby. So, raptors have put the word out — there's LOTS of food to be had on Santa Ana Valley Road!

Increasing numbers of eagles, in particular have discovered the hunting fields. The field next door to the main hunting field has now been disked, creating double the amount of food.

Above, is the tractor which was disking, yesterday evening.

Close up of the tractor.

The folks in the image above pulled up while I was watching nine GOLDEN EAGLES and six FERRUGINOUS HAWKS actively feeding and hunting in the fields. The GOLDEN EAGLES were particularly defensive of their prey, often mantling the kill when another eagle showed up. A known pair of BALD EAGLES flew in and joined the hunt. Just down the road, a PRAIRIE FALCON was sitting on a telephone pole. The morning does not seem to be a great time for photography. Afternoon is better. However, I think it will be much better once we get a warm day with some thermals which will put the birds up in the sky. In any case, bring long lenses and spotting scopes. I ran into some 22 birders today, and missed some. Abe Borker was leading a group from UCSC.

At PAICINES RESERVOIR the highlights were: 16 WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, 10 BUFFLEHEADS, 38 CANVASBACKS, 2 COOPER'S HAWKS and another adult BALD EAGLE.

I birded along PANOCHE ROAD, mostly looking for sapsuckers. I found 4 RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS. I'm looking for the other sapsuckers, though. I also found 4 BARN OWLS in two different roosts. I saw all of the usual birds along the drive to the valley. Looked hard for Lewis's Woodpecker, but found none. Just as one enters the valley floor, but before reaching the Panoche Inn, I found 24 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS, below.

Spotted another PRAIRIE FALCON and an adult GOLDEN EAGLE was sitting on a telephone pole. Birding out to SILVER CREEK RANCH area, I saw lots and lots of MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS. You just cannot miss them, although photographing them is tough. Near PANOCHE CREEK, a GREATER ROADRUNNER was spotted by some folks I met. No Mountain Plovers— yet. I kept searching for woodpeckers on the return drive to Hollister. Instead, I spotted a male PHAINOPEPLA fiercely guarding a major supply of mistletoe berries. He was at Mile Post Marke #20.85. I suspect that he will stay there for the winter. Listen for his soft whistle, as he spends most of the time inside of the giant mistletoe balls.
Those are the highlights. The raptor show continues. Sunset at Santa Ana Valley, last night, above. Enjoy the show!

Happy Trails,

Debi Shearwater

San Benito County Birding