Archives of past sightings: 1998—1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Recent bird sightings:
30 December, 2005
The Calero-Morgan Hill CBC was held today, and the preliminary species count
stands at 145. Almaden Valley highlights included a BALD EAGLE at Calero
Reservoir and a male BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER along Alamitos Creek
south of Graystone. Just outside our area Bill Bousman found a RED PHALAROPE
and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW at Chesbro Reservoir.
29 December, 2005
Kathy Parker found a MERLIN at Calero Reservoir; it was perched in the
pines at the boarding stable across the street from the boat ramp. Janna Pauser
reports that a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER and 10 HORNED LARKS were
along the Calero Creek Trail, and a LARK SPARROW was seen along Fortini
Road..
27 December, 2005
Kathy Parker reports that a BALD EAGLE was again seen at Calero
Reservoir, and a AMERICAN DIPPER was in the stretch of creek by the large
pullout at Twin Creeks. Janna Pauser and Ann Verdi saw a SORA at the SCVWD Pond.
14 December, 2005
Ann Verdi saw an adult BALD EAGLE at the southwest corner of Calero
Reservoir today - the first reported sighting in the area this winter.
8 December, 2005
Ann Verdi checked Almaden Reservoir today, and found 45 WOOD DUCKS, a
pair of HOODED MERGANSERS, 13 WILSON'S SNIPE, and a pair of COMMON
RAVENS.
7 December, 2005
Janna Pauser reports that a GOLDEN EAGLE and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
were at Guadalupe Oak Grove Park today.
27 November, 2005
Janna Pauser reports that this morning the AMERICAN BITTERN was again
seen at the SCVWD Pond, and in the afternoon a MERLIN was found at
Guadalupe Oak Grove Park.
21 November, 2005
Ann Verdi reports that this afternoon a juvenile ROSS'S GOOSE was with
the CANADA GOOSE flock at the upper end of Calero Reservoir. Only 1 CACKLING
GOOSE was seen there today.
12 November, 2005
Garrett Lau reports that the 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS were seen today at the
SCVWD Pond at about 5pm.
5 November, 2005
Mike Mammoser reports that an immature GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and 13
CACKLING GEESE were with a large flock of CANADA GEESE at Calero
Reservoir today (probably the same birds reported by Ann Verdi on 1 Nov.). He
judged all the Cackling Geese to be leucopareia (Aleutian).
1 November, 2005
Today, at the upper end of Calero Reservoir, Ann Verdi found a juvenile GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, 13 CACKLING GEESE (9 minima type, 4 Aleutian
type), 16 COMMON MERGANSERS, a PRAIRIE FALCON, 4 WILSON'S SNIPE,
and at least 6 AMERICAN PIPITS. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was in
the oaks along the road leading to the levee, and at least 20 TRICOLORED
BLACKBIRDS were with mixed blackbird flocks.
30 October, 2005
Barbara Harkleroad reports that the AMERICAN BITTERN was again seen at
the SCVWD Pond.
28 October, 2005
Janna Pauser reports that 15 HORNED LARKS and a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER
were among the birds seen today along the Calero Creek Trail near the end of
Fortini Road. An AMERICAN BITTERN and PEREGRINE FALCON were near
the SCVWD headquarters.
26 October, 2005
Gordon Barrett reported the continued presence of a pair of PEREGRINE FALCONS
at the SCVWD Pond.
23 October, 2005
Janna Pauser reports that a GOLDEN EAGLE was seen at Guadalupe Oak Grove
Park, and 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS were at the SCVWD Pond.
7 October, 2005
Ann Verdi reports
finding a NORTHERN PARULA today in the pines along the Guadalupe River
Trail just north of Coleman Rd and Almaden Lake. This represents a first Almaden
Valley record for this species.
30 September, 2005
Janna Pauser
reports finding a BREWER'S SPARROW today along the Guadalupe River Trail
a short distance north of Blossom Hill Road.
14 September, 2005
Dave Weber reports that the SOLITARY SANDPIPER was again seen today by
himself and other observers in the Guadalupe River channel adjacent to the SCVWD
Pond.
13 September, 2005
Scott Terrill reports that a SOLITARY SANDPIPER was found today along the
Guadalupe River near the SCVWD Pond. It was subsequently seen on an island in
the SCVWD Pond by Janna Pauser, Ann Verdi, Dean Manley, and Alan and Karen
Thomas. Scott also noted that lately the area around Almaden Lake and the SCVWD
Pond has been good for passerine migrants, which today included 12-15 YELLOW
WARBLERS, 2 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, 1 WARBLING VIREO, 1 WESTERN
TANAGER, and 2 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS.
12 September, 2005
Janna Pauser reports that a WILLOW FLYCATCHER was along the Guadalupe
River near the SCVWD Pond, and another was found in the river channel
north of Blossom Hill Road.
10 September, 2005
Janna Pauser visited Almaden Reservoir today. Highlights included an OSPREY,
several pairs of WOOD DUCKS, and 4 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS. She also
reports that an adult GOLDEN EAGLE was perched on a power tower at McKean
& Schillingsburg, and 8 YELLOW BILLED MAGPIES were along McKean at
Casa Loma Rd.
6 September, 2005
Barbara Harkleroad reports that a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH visited her yard
this morning.
18 June, 2005
Bob Reiling and Frank Vanslager observed an adult male PURPLE MARTIN
today in the Sierra Azul O.S.P. (along the road leading to Mt. Umunhum). A BLACK-THROATED
GRAY WARBLER was seen along the trail to Bald Mountain.
29 January, 2005
Janna Pauser reports that the wintering BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was seen
today near the beginning of the Stile Ranch Trail.
24 January, 2005
Janna Pauser found 11 HORNED LARKS today along the Calero Creek Trail
just north of the parking area for the Stile Ranch Trail. They were in the
fields just past the wooden poles where the trail begins.
23 January, 2005
Bill Shao reports the continued presence of 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS at the
SCVWD.
21 January, 2005
Bill Shao reports that 4 YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIES were seen in farmland near
the Fortini Trail.
20 January, 2005
Bill Shao reports that 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS continue to be seen
at the SCVWD.
18 January, 2005
Bill Bousman reports that the PEREGRINE FALCON pair was again seen at the
SCVWD today. He also found 8 RING-NECKED DUCKS on the main pond, and a
flock of about 7 NUTMEG MANNIKINS along the river.
17 January, 2005
Patty Brown reports that a number of WOOD DUCKS, including 7 males, were
observed at Almaden Reservoir this morning.
16 January, 2005
Janna Pauser reports that a WESTERN GREBE, a GOLDEN EAGLE, and a TRICOLORED
BLACKBIRD were among the birds seen at Calero Reservoir today.
15 January, 2005
Bill Shao reports the continued presence of a PEREGRINE FALCON at the
SCVWD this morning.
14 January, 2005
Ann Verdi reports that a WILSON'S WARBLER (first winter record for the
Almaden Valley) was found in trees and shrubbery by the spillway on
the east side of the Guadalupe Channel near the VTA parking lot just north
Almaden Lake and Coleman Rd.
13 January, 2005
Bill Shao reports that a pair of PEREGRINE FALCONS was at the SCVWD this
afternoon. Jennifer Rycenga visited Calero Reservoir today, and found the adult BALD
EAGLE in an oak past the dam, a GOLDEN EAGLE perched on a pole near
the boat ramp, and at least 6 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS at the horse stables.
12 January, 2005
Ann Verdi, on one of her monthly surveys of Almaden Reservoir, today found 20 WOOD
DUCKS, several other species of ducks including COMMON GOLDENEYE and BUFFLEHEAD,
and 2 WILSON'S SNIPE. There were 2 RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS near
the dam (new location for this species?), and a "SLATE-COLORED"
DARK-EYED JUNCO was at Twin Creeks.
8 January, 2005
Marcus Armani reports that a PEREGRINE FALCON was again seen at the SCVWD
today.
6 January, 2005
Mike Rogers reports the continued presence of the adult BALD EAGLE at
Calero Reservoir, and also observed a CLARK'S GREBE, 5 WESTERN GREBES,
and a few fly-over PINE SISKINS and PURPLE FINCHES there. At least
11 male TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS were along the park entrance road at the
east end of the reservoir.
5 January, 2005
Janna Pauser reports that the AMERICAN BITTERN and pair of PEREGRINE
FALCONS were again seen at the SCVWD today, and MERLINS were observed
just south of Almaden Lake and at nearby Guadalupe Oak Grove Park. Michael
Mammoser reports that 2 LESSER YELLOWLEGS were with 22 GREATER
YELLOWLEGS at the vernal pool on the west side of Santa Teresa Blvd. at the
north end of Coyote Valley (just "over the hill" from the Almaden
Valley).
4 January, 2005
Garth Harwood reports that a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (always unusual in
winter) was found along the Stile Ranch Trail on the grassy hilltop above the
switchbacks. Other birds observed there included WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS, ROCK
WRENS, and several RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS. Ann Verdi reports that
highlights of a monthly survey of Calero Reservoir done today included the adult
BALD EAGLE, 2 GOLDEN EAGLES, and the juvenile GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and 1 minima-type CACKLING GOOSE with a flock of
80+ CANADA GEESE. Kathy Parker also observed the adult BALD EAGLE
at Calero Reservoir, and reported the continuing presence of a pair of PEREGRINE
FALCONS at the SCVWD Pond.
3 January, 2005
Janna Pauser reports that 2 MERLINS were seen today along the Alamitos
Creek Trail just south of Almaden Lake.
1 January, 2005
Ann Verdi reports that today a male HOODED MERGANSER was at Almaden
Reservoir; 6 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, a juvenile GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GOOSE, and the adult BALD EAGLE were at Calero Reservoir; and a BONAPARTE'S
GULL was at Chesbro Reservoir. Janna Pauser reports that 2 PEREGRINE
FALCONS were perched in a sycamore at the SCVWD Pond, and that a dozen LARK
SPARROWS were again seen in a yard along Fortini Road. In addition, Dave
Kiehl had a GOLDEN EAGLE and a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE at Calero
Reservoir today.
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