Oka Ponds

"Look, Golden-crowned Sparrows! Quick, get a shot of them!"
"Where? I don't see them..."
"Right there, on the trail ahead! Those brown birds... Look for movement!"

        Now there's another birder in the family - my younger brother! After I got my new camera, he's obsessed with taking bird photos with it, and also wants to learn about the birds themselves. It's nice to have someone who (sort-of) understands my obsession now!

      The Friday after I had a successful trip to Shoreline Lake, my brother and I decided to visit Oka Ponds - a set of six percolation ponds near our school, with plenty of waterfowl. When school ended, our grandpa drove us there, and the three of us walked around the ponds.

      Unfortunately, in the recent dry spell (also meaning less birds), the canals usually filled with water near the entrance to the park had dried up, but not the main ponds. On the second-largest one, there were MALLARDS, RUDDY DUCKS, a COMMON GOLDENEYE, BUFFLEHEADS, and a scaup that revealed itself to be a clear-cut LESSER, with the peak at the back of the head. The Mallard shot was taken by my brother.

        On the next pond, there was a large number of AMERICAN COOTS, GADWALLS, and AMERICAN WIGEONS, as well as more Buffleheads and Mallards, and a lone NORTHERN SHOVELER. The trees near the pond held OAK TITMICE, CALIFORNIA TOWHEES, and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS. Here are both the wigeon and the Gadwall compared to a coot.

       As we got ready to cross the bridge that would lead to the three most productive of the six ponds, we met a birder who was just leaving the place. She hadn't found any waterfowl that we hadn't seen already, but she did spot Wilson's Snipes on the island of the largest pond, and told us exactly where to look! Wilson's Snipe would be a lifer for me, and a must-see bird, so I rushed toward the largest pond with my brother (with the camera), who managed to snap a Common Goldeneye while I was looking for the snipes.

       A smile spread on the part of my face visible below my binoculars, as I swept them over a line of six WILSON'S SNIPES standing on the shore of the island closest to us! If the lady had not told us where to look, I doubt I would have found the elusive, well-camouflaged birds. That's the second time a birder has helped me find a bird this year. Here are shots my brother and I got:

        Also found in or near the ponds were a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, a KILLDEER, and a surprise Code 3 SPOTTED SANDPIPER, tail-bobbing in a flock of Mallards.  Also got a nice shot of a PIED-BILLED GREBE.

     
        As we were walking back, a RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD flew over the ponds, making for my last FOY of the great trip. In less than an hour, we saw 35 species, including one lifer and five FOYs, and had an awesome time. I hope my brother and I have many more birding adventures like this during my Big Year, and in the years to come.

Summary:
Birds seen: 35
New birds: 5
Big Year count: 89

Shoreline Lake

       As I promised in my last blog post, my next trip would be to the Shoreline at Mountain View area. Today, I would bird the park's lake, where Barrow's Goldeneye had been reported. I would also be trying to get some other ducks, but wouldn't visit the part of the park that had shorebirds.

       This time, my entire family would be going with me. As we drove into the park, we began talking about a Golden Eagle that my brother and dad had seen here once, and that was later reported eating a coot. And, speak of the devil, I noticed a huge bird sitting on a light pole near another parking lot, which turned out to be a GOLDEN EAGLE! We got really close, and got some nice photos.

       There were many WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, some GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS, NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS, BUSHTITS, and a FOX SPARROW on the way to the lake. Upon arriving at Shoreline Lake, I scrutinized the gulls on the shore closest to us, but all appeared to be RING-BILLED GULLS. On the lake, there were several BUFFLEHEADS, as well as AMERICAN COOTS, COMMON GOLDENEYES, and EARED GREBES. As I was scanning the grebes, I saw some with a clearly defined line on the head, separating the dark and light, making them HORNED GREBES - my first lifer of the day! I got some shots of the Eared Grebes, but not of the Horned.

     
       My dad shouted to me about a raptor sitting in a tree, and it turned out to be one of the resident PEREGRINE FALCONS. It flew out over the lake, and attacked the gulls on the other side, but it looked like they got away without any casualties. Farther down the lake's shore, I stopped to look at goldeneyes, and a close pair with tear-drop shaped white spots on the head caught my eyes. I didn't want to call the ducks Barrow's Goldeneyes at once, because hybrids had also been reported from the lake, but the people on the helpful site Whatbird confirmed my birds to be BARROW'S GOLDENEYES - a lifer, and a great bird for the county (Code 4)! Here are some shots:
      

       Feeling great, I proceeded to the lake's end, where I found a resident WILLET and a pair of SURF SCOTERS. Walking along Shoreline's main ponds produced yearbirds AMERICAN AVOCET and NORTHERN SHOVELER, and faraway WESTERN GREBES, as well as RUDDY DUCKS, lots of CANVASBACKS, and more Common Goldeneyes. Sort-of fond of the accidental composition of the photo below. ;)

       
       On the way back, I spotted some CALIFORNIA TOWHEES, and got a nice shot of one. Under a bridge near our car, some kind hikers pointed out an egret to me, which turned out to be a SNOWY EGRET - one of my most overdue yearbirds.

       It was a really nice trip with two lifers and 12 additions to my county yearlist, but unfortunately, I didn't get to visit the Charleston Slough/Coast Casey Forebay part of Shoreline, so I didn't pick up some common ducks and shorebirds, but I hope to do that in February.

Summary:
Birds seen: 41
New birds: 12
Big Year count: 84

P.S. - On the drive back to my house, I saw a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK sitting on a powerline, number 85 on my yearlist!

Coyote Valley

        After going to Vasona and Stanford,  I had gotten most of the resident and wintering woodland birds. There were some missing, like Varied Thrush, Brown Creeper, and Red-breasted Sapsucker, but I knew where to go for them - up in the mountains. Now, I decided to focus on open-country/grassland birds, as well as ducks and shorebirds. To see some birds from the former category, one of the best places in the county is Coyote Valley. This hotspot, located between the two mountain ranges on either side of the Silicon Valley, is mostly undeveloped farmland, that, sadly, is being bought by companies to build residencies on. As of now, this is probably the best place in Santa Clara County to see raptors - including recently reported Short-eared and Burrowing Owls, Red-tailed Hawk, accipiters, Red-shouldered Hawk, Golden Eagle, all four falcons, White-tailed Kite, Northern Harrier, and, my biggest target, the several winter resident Ferruginous Hawks.  

        One the fourth day of my Big Year, I woke up early, and my dad and I set off towards Coyote Valley. Our first stop would be Laguna Ave. Most people car-bird in Laguna, but we decided to walk its length instead. As soon as we got out of the car, we were greeted by many GREAT BLUE HERONS and GREAT EGRETS hunting in the fields.

 

       Next, my dad showed me a white bird sitting in a tree across the field, too far for binoculars, but not for the camera's 50x zoom, with which I identified the bird as a WHITE-TAILED KITE, and even managed to take a passable photo. 

       

       Also seen coursing over the field was a male NORTHERN HARRIER, and several RED-TAILED HAWKS on the other side of the road. On the farm near the entrance to Laguna Ave, there were many introduced EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES on the wires, as well as some BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS, and a few BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS: all yearbirds. Also on the wires, farther down the road, were some WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, SAVANNAH SPARROWS, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, and an AMERICAN KESTREL. On the other side of the road, there was a BLACK PHOEBE, and a female Northern Harrier. I got some photos:

 

       I still had some major target birds to see that were not showing up: Say's Phoebe and Western Meadowlark, for example. The owls were nowhere to be seen, and every hawk I saw flying was a Red-tail, not a Ferruginous. My luck would soon change, though, as I saw a medium-sized gray bird with orange undertail coverts far away - a SAY'S PHOEBE - and came closer, getting some shots:

      

       At the end of Laguna Road, I heard loud squawking calls, and manage to track them down to YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIES, which were a pleasant surprise because I had forgot about them as a target bird when planning this trip. Also photographed was one compared to a COMMON RAVEN.

       At the end of Laguna, there were many unidentified blackbirds, as well as several far-away WESTERN MEADOWLARKS. As we were waiting for any other birds to put in an appearance, a mockingbird-sized bird perched at the top of a snag, but flew off quickly to another tree, and I managed to identify it with my camera's zoom - a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE!

      And, to give you an idea of the habitat we were birding in (looking back on Laguna Ave):

       More Say's Phoebes put on a show, flycatching together with the Blacks, on the way back, but no new birds were seen until the very end of the road, where I met a nice gentleman named Bob Gunderson, who was going to car-bird down Laguna Ave. As I was talking to him, I had a GOLDEN EAGLE glide over us, but was gone too fast for photos. However, Bob Gunderson pointed out that my target Ferruginous Hawk had often been seen on the next road in the valley, Richmond Ave.

      My dad and I drove off to the western part of Richmond Ave, but all we found were more Black and Say's Phoebes, many Northern Harriers, more Red-tails (no Ferruginous), two TURKEY VULTURES, and a flushed, unidentified juvenile accipiter in the brush at the end of the road. This CALIFORNIA TOWHEE did pose nicely, though:

       We next drove off to the eastern part of the avenue to try our luck there. It had been an amazing trip so far, but I really wanted to see that Ferruginous Hawk for a lifer (owls were out of the question). We met a group of birders who were watching the fields between Laguna and Richmond, and they gave me great scope views of herons and Red-tailed Hawks. In the distance, I saw a large flock of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS. I learned from the group that there were many other proposed developments in this area. This is really said, because Coyote Valley is one of the last strongholds in the county for some species, like the Loggerhead Shrike, and is of great environmental importance.

        The second group we met was Bob Gunderson and another man, both pointing cameras at a large bird in the field on the other side of Richmond Ave. I'll admit to saying, "That's my FERRUGINOUS HAWK!" quite loudly as I leaped out of the car with my binoculars and camera!

        The Ferruginous Hawk took off, and landed on a power pole labeled "High Voltage." Then, to our utter surprise, the raptor moved to the field on the other side of the road, and went after a jackrabbit! No kidding! It took several swipes at the rabbit, taking a small chunk of fur out, but it got away. I watched through my camera's high zoom, and managed to get this shot:

       

          The Ferruginous Hawk circled back to the power pole, and my dad and I snapped many shots of it:

       WOW! What a way to get a lifer! The best way to get one (in my opinion) in fact: to go looking for one, and on the verge of giving up, to see it with great looks. Thanks to Bob Gunderson for giving me the tip to look on Richmond Ave! The trip to Coyote Valley was a great success, and netted me my first lifer of the year, a Ferruginous Hawk - a Code 4 in county codes. Now, to look for ducks and shorebirds at Shoreline!

Summary:

Birds seen: 32

New birds: 15

Big Year count: 70

Stanford University Campus

       My second trip of my Big Year was to the Stanford University Campus in extreme northwestern Santa Clara County. Even though we would visit the Arts Center and view several of the Quads, I took along my new camera, because Stanford is also a nice birding place. Again, I was pleased with how most of the shots turned out, but, as several users have commented, doesn't work well with fast movement in low light.

      It turns out that bird #50 for my Big Year was a RED-TAILED HAWK that I saw sitting on a telephone pole while driving to Stanford! Only two days past, and I'm already 1/4 of the way to my goal - not a bad start!

       Here is Stanford's Hoover Tower through trees.

       Here is my (attempted) take on California oak woodland.

        As you can see, there were plenty of ACORN WOODPECKERS around. I couldn't get a decent shot because they were so high up, and there always seemed to be branches covering them up.

       
       Stanford's famous oval with the lawn, and the Hoover Tower.

       Here is the entrance to the Stanford Main Quad with the Hoover Tower.

       Birds I saw included: WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS, COMMON RAVENS, a WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, a RED-TAILED HAWK, and EUROPEAN STARLINGS. The above HERMIT THRUSH was found together with several AMERICAN ROBINS, and was photographed sitting on a bicycle tire! The photo was darkened in Picasa, but I like how it turned out. While I was watching the robins and thrush, I also saw a SPOTTED TOWHEE looking for food by jumping around on the ground, near the bicycles, but I couldn't get a shot. I also got a sharp photo of a CEDAR WAXWING'S head, who wouldn't show me his entire body. And, lastly, I photographed three GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS (close two non-breeding, far one breeding) together. 

       One last shot of the Hoover Tower.

       I look forward to taking more shots with this camera, and unlocking its full potential. I am currently catching up on trip reports: right now, I am writing one on Coyote Valley. Tomorrow, the 12th of January, I may go to Shoreline, which could get me to 100 for the first month.

Summary:
Birds seen: 24
New birds: 4
Big Year count: 54

Canon Powershot SX 50

       As a present, I recently got the Canon Powershot SX 50 HS. This camera is a HUGE improvement from the one I had previously, a Nikon Coolpix P100, with a broken zoom. I hope to get some great photos this year with the camera to document my Big Year. At maximum zoom, the camera can zoom to 200x, and can focus at 50x comfortably.

    The afternoon after I went to Vasona Lake, I unpacked the camera, read the instruction manual, and was ready to use it. I went outside to snap some shots near our front yard. Here are the results, and I am very happy:

       NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD -- a FOY! It was actually in our yard, but too obscured by branches, and took off too fast for a good photo. Taken from across the street, and much better than anything my old camera could have done.

       YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER -- not the best shot, but still, much better than what my old one could have done.

        MOURNING DOVE -- in our front yard, but not bad for 50x! I will probably edit out the branch near its beak in Paint.

       Really happy with this one -- a FOY LINCOLN'S SPARROW that has taken to frequenting our yard! This is slightly cropped, but I like the shot a lot.

   
       And lastly, Mr. Fluffy -- a Yellow-rumped Warbler hanging out on our neighbor's tree.

       Again, I'm really impressed with the shots this camera has taken so far. The next day, I went to Stanford for non-birding purposes, but still got some nice shots I'll share. What will number 50 be?

Summary:
Birds seen: 4
New birds: 2
Big Year count: 49