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 & Panoche Valley: Feb 5, 2011

Howdy, Birders,

Birding in San Benito County on February 5th, my first stop was on Santa Ana Valley to search for the continuing EASTERN PHOEBE. Sophie Webb was already there, shooting photographs of the birds. Below, are her copyrighted images. County Birders, Jim Lomax and John Luther arrived within minutes and ticked the phoebe.

This FERRUGINOUS HAWK is the same individual in my previous post. Remember how I mentioned that they can very habitual in their daily routine? Well, it is still near the intersection of Santa Ana Valley and Quien Sabe Roads, on the telephone pole.

There I am, with my cup of morning "joe."
The Eastern Phoebe was staying high in the trees, making photography extremely difficult!
Heading out to Panoche Valley, we spotted many White-crowned Sparrows along the J1, or Panoche Road.
A stop along the way, produced a California Thrasher. Even though it is only early February, they are singing away, establishing their breeding territories.
This Red-tailed Hawk is having landing difficulties.
A beautiful soaring Red-tail. They are also on territory, as well as actively nest building.
The roadsides of the valley floor in Panoche host thousands of Savannah Sparrows.
The beautiful Panoche Valley is slated to become covered with solar panels. Our field trip on this day, lead by the very capable Clay Kempf, was centered around fundraising for the legal defense fund. Donations can be made to Santa Clara Valley Audubon. Mark your check, Save Panoche Valley, 100% of your donation will go to the fund.
We ended our birding day at Mercy Hot Springs where both Long-eared and Barn Owls were a highlight of a great day of birding.
P.S. Today, February 8th, the Eastern Phoebe was still present at mile marker 3.02, along with at least two Cassin's Kingbirds on a nearby fence.

Happy Trails,

Debi Shearwater

San Benito County Birding: Update on Eastern Phoebe

Howdy, Birders.

This afternoon from 3:07 to 3:32, I tried to get a photo of the EASTERN PHOEBE on Santa Ana Valley Road in San Benito County. To my surprise, it was nowhere to be seen when I first arrived. After finding a SAY'S PHOEBE nearby, I began to search a small orchard in the area. A BLACK PHOEBE was calling loudly from the orchard. Then, I noticed the EASTERN PHOEBE, sitting on the very top of some leafless trees in the front yard of the white home. This was closer to the 3.02 mile marker. The phoebe was making a soft call note. Below, is my photograph.

It was surprising how many other birds were around in this sort of habitat: NUTTAL'S WOODPECKER, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, KESTREL, WHITE-TAILED KITE, WESTERN SCRUB JAY, CALIFORNIA QUAIL, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, HOUSE FINCH, WESTERN MEADOWLARK, and a CASSIN'S KINGBIRD near house #2200. My photograph is below.

See you out there!

Happy Trails,

Debi Shearwater

San Benito County Birding

San Benito County Birding: January 29-31, 2011

Howdy, Birders,

This report is to confirm the EASTERN PHOEBE in San Benito County at #3080 to #3100 Santa Ana Valley Road.

After seeing the post by Al Eisner, I jumped in my car and headed for Santa Ana Valley Road. This was by far, the easiest bird that I have ever chased. It was the second bird that I saw, after house finch. The phoebe was closer to #3080, in ditch on the side of the road opposite the houses. It was perched on a dead thistle plant. It flew to the second line of barbed wire fencing, on the same side of the road. So, it is hanging in that area. I only stayed a few minutes. It is a classic Eastern Phoebe. There is a mile marker at the exact spot: 3.06.

This is the sixth known Eastern Phoebe record for San Benito County. Amazingly, this bird is precisely where I heard, but did not see, an Eastern Phoebe about ten years ago.

Elsewhere in the county: I would like to clear up the location of the Bear Valley Fire Station pond. It is south of Paicines Reservoir, and not south of Pinnacles. The pond is full with water. American Wigeon have been hanging out there. The large flock of blackbirds has been hanging around, as well. This is a known past breeding location for Tricolored Blackbirds. So, if you are thinking of chasing the Yellow-headed Blackbirds (2) which I reported a few days ago, the chances are good for finding them (in my opinion).

Many thanks to Al Eisner and Alvaro Jaramillo for relaying the reported phoebe. Please email me, if you see any of these birds, or other birds in San Benito County.

San Benito County Birding,

Debi Shearwater