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Shipman's field notes, Apr 1978

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1978-04-02: CA: Cupertino: Tandem plant

Notable:  White-tailed Kite
@day: Cupertino: Tandem plant
As I edit these notes in 2011, I can't remember exactly when Tandem moved from its second location in Cupertino to the building on Pruneridge next to Vallco Village. I'm pretty sure we were no longer on Stender Way in Santa Clara, in the back of the SpectraPhysics building.
Kite, White-tailed 1 @Cupertino: Tandem plant
In an urban environment.

1978-04-04: CA: Palo Alto: Fairchild plant

@day: Palo Alto: Fairchild plant
Hard by the Foothill Expressway.
Photos used an Olympus 310 strobe, which accounts for the bluish tinge in some frames.
Dove, Mourning @Palo Alto: Fairchild plant
Towhee, California @Palo Alto: Fairchild plant
Sparrow, Fox @Palo Alto: Fairchild plant
Sparrow, Song @Palo Alto: Fairchild plant
Sparrow, Harris' @Palo Alto: Fairchild plant
1978-04-04a00251978-04-04b0031
Sparrow, White-crowned @Palo Alto: Fairchild plant
Sparrow, Golden-crowned @Palo Alto: Fairchild plant
1978-04-04a0029

1978-04-04: CA: Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park

@day: Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Mostly in a site I called “Lazuli Canyon,” just northwest of the dam, and also on the plateau northeast of there.
GPS: 371759n1220443w Approximate mouth of Lazuli Canyon.
GPS: 371803n1220440w Rough center of the plateau.
Quail, California @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Vulture, Turkey @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Kestrel, American @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Killdeer 2 @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Dove, Rock @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Dove, Mourning @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Hummingbird, Anna's @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Behavior: Singing and chasing.
Flicker, Red-shafted @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
scrub-jay sp. @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Titmouse, Oak @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Bushtit, Common @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Vocalizations: Buzzy notes on rising and falling inflections: 'oh?'; 'oh.'
Wrentit 1 @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Vocalizations: Calling.
Thrasher, California @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Vocalizations: Song like a mockingbird in full blast but with less repetition.
Starling, European @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Towhee, Rufous-sided @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Towhee, California # @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Sparrow, Lark 1 @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Vocalizations: Singing.
Sparrow, Song @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Description: By stickpin.
Vocalizations: Song, also 'pst' note, which I thought only Savannah Sparrows made.
Sparrow, Golden-crowned # @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Foraging in crowns of deciduous trees.
Junco, Oregon @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Blackbird, Brewer's @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Finch, Purple # @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
1978-04-04-0006
Goldfinch, American # @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park

1978-04-08: CA: Palo Alto Baylands

@PAB: Palo Alto Baylands
Willet @Palo Alto Baylands
1978-04-08-00031978-04-08-0005
Also see the photo under Dunlin.
Dunlin @Palo Alto Baylands
1978-04-08c0012
dowitcher sp. @Palo Alto Baylands
1978-04-08c0008
Gull, Bonaparte's @Palo Alto Baylands
1978-04-08-00361978-04-08a0004

1978-04-10: CA: Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park

@day: Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Upper picnic area and the hillside above it.
Missed No flycatchers, vireos, or kinglets.
Of little brown birds, very few identified. This place could yield 20 more species with the proper patience and some night glasses for the shady spots. Particularly frustrating was a treeful of at least 40 squeaking passerines that couldn't be seen unless they were moving. Could have been siskins, finches, warblers, or who knows what.
Quail, California @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Vocalizations: Broken squeaker.
Vulture, Turkey @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Accipiter sp. @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Gull, Bonaparte's 1 @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Below the dam, 100' altitude or so.
Dove, Mourning # @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Hummingbird, Anna's @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Woodpecker, Nuttall's 
1♂ @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
2♀ @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Vocalizations: 'kiddick', also 'kwee^4'.
Flicker, Red-shafted @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Jay, Steller's @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Vocalizations: Grunts, like a Scrub Jay sorting peanuts.
scrub-jay sp. @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Crow, Common @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Swallow, Violet-green # @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Description: Eye in white. Some immatures.
Chickadee, Chestnut-backed @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Titmouse, Oak @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Vocalizations: Voice recorded as 'by curse'.
Bushtit # @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
One seen, hundreds heard.
Nuthatch, White-breasted 3 @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Wren, Bewick's 1 @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Vocalizations: Singing from near the top of a six-foot shrub: 'zee, zee-oh, bzzzzz, sweet^6'. I had heard the last part on 1978-04-04 from a distance, but today I caught him with his mouth open. Another said: 'seet goweerr, (trill)' repeatedly.
Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Wrentit 2♂ @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Vocalizations: Calling.
Robin, American @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Thrasher, California @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Mixed sage chaparral.
Vocalizations: Like a mockingbird but less repetitive.
Starling, European @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Towhee, Rufous-sided @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Towhee, California @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Sparrow, White-throated ? @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Description: WHite side stripe, yellow at the front (and fairly bright), but between black, not rufous stripes at the yellow. Unable to see whether the throat was white; a nervous individual.
Sparrow, White-crowned @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Sparrow, Golden-crowned @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Brush and deciduous understory.
Junco, Oregon @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
From eight feet away in the shade. Wish I'd brought the strobe.
Blackbird, Brewer's @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Finch, House @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Purple Finch not ruled out in all cases; thought I might have seen a light eyeline.
Goldfinch, American @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Sparrow, House @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park

1978-04-18: CA: Palo Alto: 3101#22 Middlefield Road

@p3101: Palo Alto: 3101#22 Middlefield Road
Towhee, Spotted @Palo Alto: 3101#22 Middlefield Road
House list.

1978-04-21: CA: Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park

@day: Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Quail, California @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Heron, Great Blue @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Hawk, Sharp-shinned ♀ @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Hawk, Red-tailed 1a @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Tern, Caspian 3 @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Over the reservoir.
Dove, Rock @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Pigeon, Band-tailed @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Dove, Mourning @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Hummingbird, Anna's @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Hummingbird, Allen's @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Woodpecker, Nuttall's 1♀ @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Vocalizations: 'kiddick, kidikkik': alarm?
Pewee, Western @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Vireo, Cassin's ? @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Description: Complete eye-ring.
Vocalizations: Short, separate 2- and 3-note rising and falling groups separated by short spaces. Sounds like the record.
1978-04-21-0034
Jay, Steller's @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
scrub-jay sp. @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Crow, Common @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Swallow, Violet-green # @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Swarming.
Chickadee, Chestnut-backed @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Titmouse, Oak @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Vocalizations: 'dee^2 dik^3', also 'dee^3 dik^2'.
Heard and seen.
Bushtit # @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Wren, Bewick's @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Wrentit 1 @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Robin, American @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Thrasher, California @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Starling, European @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Breeding: Nesting.
Warbler, Wilson's @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Towhee, Rufous-sided @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Towhee, California @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Sparrow, Song @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Sparrow, White-crowned @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Junco, Oregon @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Grosbeak, Black-headed @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Blackbird, Brewer's @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Finch, House @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Goldfinch, American @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park
Breeding: Nesting.
Sparrow, House @Santa Clara: Stevens Creek Park

1978-04-23: CA: Bodega Bay, Cordelle Banks pelagic

Notable:  Arctic Tern
@BH: Bodega Harbor
@CB: Cordelle Banks pelagic
@DP: Bodega Bay: Doran Park
@PBR: Petaluma-Bodega road
@day: Bodega Bay, Cordelle Banks pelagic
Brant 
1 @Bodega Harbor
70+ @Cordelle Banks pelagic
Wigeon, American @Cordelle Banks pelagic
Seen from CA-1 along Richardson's Bay.
Scaup, Greater 3 @Bodega Harbor
Mudflats.
Scoter, Surf @Cordelle Banks pelagic
Scoter, White-winged @Cordelle Banks pelagic
Quail, California # @Petaluma-Bodega road
Loon, Red-throated # @Bodega Harbor
Description: None with red throats.
Loon, Pacific @Cordelle Banks pelagic
Heavy migration out a couple of miles. About ten flocks of 1-4 dozen birds each, most in breeding plumage.
Loon, Common 24+ @Bodega Harbor
Grebe, Red-necked 1 @Bodega Harbor
Grebe, Eared 3-4 @Bodega Harbor
Description: Alternate plumage.
Albatross, Black-footed @Cordelle Banks pelagic
1978-04-23-00111978-04-23c00091978-04-23c00121978-04-23e0008
When I complained about “always” missing Laysan Albatross, Ben Parmeter said he had been on around a hundred pelagic trips from Monterey to Bodega and never seen one.
Shearwater, Pink-footed 1+ @Cordelle Banks pelagic
Shearwater, Sooty 200 @Cordelle Banks pelagic
Starting to flock.
Cormorant, Brandt's @Cordelle Banks pelagic
Cormorant, Pelagic @Cordelle Banks pelagic
Description: Alternate plumage.
1978-04-23e0030
Pelican, Brown 2 @Bodega Harbor
On a rock outside the channel.
Heron, Great Blue @Bodega Harbor
Vulture, Turkey @Cordelle Banks pelagic
Hawk, Marsh 1 @Bodega Bay: Doran Park
Hawk, Red-tailed 
1 @Bodega Harbor
1 @Cordelle Banks pelagic
From CA-1, Marin County.
Kestrel, American 
1 @Cordelle Banks pelagic
Near Petaluma.
1 @Cordelle Banks pelagic
I-280 near Pacifica.
Coot, American @Bodega Harbor
Killdeer @Bodega Bay: Doran Park
Willet @Bodega Harbor
Godwit, Marbled @Bodega Harbor
Turnstone, Ruddy 3-4 @Bodega Harbor
Turnstone, Black 30-40 @Bodega Harbor
Surfbird 1 @Bodega Harbor
Foraging on the big mudflat just north of the channel. Seen in the same place evening as morning!
Sanderling @Bodega Harbor
Sandpiper, Least @Bodega Harbor
Dunlin @Bodega Harbor
dowitcher sp. @Bodega Harbor
Phalarope, Northern 100+ @Cordelle Banks pelagic
Couple dozen flocks averaging 4-5 birds each.
Phalarope, Red 2 @Cordelle Banks pelagic
Near but not with the Northern Phalaropes.
Description: Solid cinnamon color below.
Kittiwake, Black-legged 1 @Cordelle Banks pelagic
Following the boat.
Gull, Bonaparte's # @Cordelle Banks pelagic
Plenty of them from the harbor all the way to the Banks 20 miles out. About 90% of them with solid black heads.
Gull, Western # @Cordelle Banks pelagic
The vast majority of gulls.
Gull, California @Cordelle Banks pelagic
Description: Besides the obvious California Gulls, there was a mystery gull. Mandible like a Western, yellow with a single red spot. Mantle very light, much too light to be a Western. Feet yellow. Size like Western or nearly so. Consensus was California, maybe a hybrid or the Asian race.
Gull, Herring 2 @Cordelle Banks pelagic
Gull, Glaucous-winged 2 @Cordelle Banks pelagic
Description: One first-year, one second-year.
Tern, Caspian 2 @Bodega Harbor
Near The Tides at debarkation.
Tern, Arctic 2-5 @Cordelle Banks pelagic
They followed the boat for about ten minutes. Three other single sightings that could have been the same birds.
Description: Others saw the white strip under the black cap. I saw gray on the chest, short legs and red feet, and gray on the outer margin of the tail.
Behavior: Succeeded in more or less hand-feeding suet cubes to one who caught them in mid-air like any competent Western Gull.
1978-04-23b0036
Tern, Forster's 50 @Bodega Harbor
Jaeger, Pomarine 4-5 @Cordelle Banks pelagic
Ranging from nearshore to about 15 miles out.
1978-04-23b0022
Murre, Common # @Cordelle Banks pelagic
Description: Plumages half and half.
Guillemot, Pigeon ~12 @Bodega Harbor
Mainly outside the harbor mouth.
Murrelet, Marbled 1? @Bodega Harbor
Description: Not seen well, might conceivably been a Xantus or ancient, but probably a Marbled since that species was seen here 1978-03-17.
Auklet, Cassin's 14+ @Cordelle Banks pelagic
Got close looks at two, and the usual fleeting glimpses of the rest.
Auklet, Rhinoceros 50 @Cordelle Banks pelagic
Description: Most in grungy plumage, but some (about ten of them) complete with horns.
1978-04-23-0031
Puffin, Tufted @Cordelle Banks pelagic
As we headed in, one buzzed the boat only about 2–3 miles out.
1978-04-23e0021
Dove, Rock # @Bodega Bay, Cordelle Banks pelagic
Underpasses.
Dove, Mourning # @Bodega Bay, Cordelle Banks pelagic
Wires.
Jay, Steller's @Bodega Bay, Cordelle Banks pelagic
CA-1 near San Rafael.
Scrub-Jay, Western @Bodega Bay, Cordelle Banks pelagic
Wires.
Crow, Common @Bodega Bay, Cordelle Banks pelagic
Petaluma area.
Swallow, Cliff # @Bodega Bay: Doran Park
Swallow, Barn # @Bodega Bay, Cordelle Banks pelagic
Near barns.
Robin, American @Bodega Bay, Cordelle Banks pelagic
Lawns in San Francisco.
Starling, European @Bodega Bay, Cordelle Banks pelagic
Petaluma.
Sparrow, Song @Bodega Bay: Doran Park
Sparrow, White-crowned @Bodega Bay: Doran Park
Blackbird, Red-winged @Bodega Bay, Cordelle Banks pelagic
Meadowlark, Western @Bodega Bay, Cordelle Banks pelagic
Blackbird, Brewer's @Bodega Bay, Cordelle Banks pelagic
Cowbird, Brown-headed @Cordelle Banks pelagic
Ten miles out! It couldn't land on the boat, didn't even try, just circled.
Finch, House @Bodega Bay: Doran Park
Sparrow, House # @Bodega Bay, Cordelle Banks pelagic

1978-04-26: CA: San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)

@day: San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
I stuck close to one of the trip leaders, Phil Hand. Phil is one of the best birders-by-ear I've ever known. Two other novice birders stayed by Phil as well. At one point a bird dashed across the trail in front of us. I had no idea what it was. One of the other novices asked him, “And what was that?” Phil replied, “That was an LBB.” It was some time before he admitted that LBB stands for “little brown bird,” and he had no more idea what it was than any of us.
Vulture, Turkey @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Hawk, Red-tailed @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Dove, Mourning @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Hummingbird, Allen's @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Kingfisher, Belted @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Woodpecker, Nuttall's @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Flicker, Red-shafted @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Flycatcher, Pacific-slope @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Flycatcher, Ash-throated @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Vireo, Solitary @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Vireo, Warbling @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Jay, Steller's @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
scrub-jay sp. @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Swallow, Tree / Swallow, Violet-green @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Chickadee, Chestnut-backed @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Bushtit, Common @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Nuthatch, Pygmy @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Creeper, Brown @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Wren, Bewick's @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Wren, Winter @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Wrentit @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Robin, American @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Starling, European @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Warbler, Orange-crowned @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Warbler, Wilson's @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Towhee, Rufous-sided @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Towhee, California @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Sparrow, Song @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Junco, Oregon @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Grosbeak, Black-headed @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Blackbird, Brewer's @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
Finch, House @San Francisco Watershed: Stone Dam (SCVAS)
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Last updated: 2011-05-23 18:54 MDT