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31 December, 2007 - Almaden Valley highlights from the Calero Morgan Hill CBC held on Dec. 29th included a RED-THROATED LOON, a SURF SCOTER, and a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER at Calero Reservoir (Ann Verdi, John Mariani); a male COMMON X BARROW'S GOLDENEYE at the Santa Clara Water District, the continuing flock of CHIPPING SPARROWS at Jeffrey Fontana Park (Penny and Dave Kiehl), and an eastern (red) FOX SPARROW and WHITE THROATED SPARROW at the start of Mine Hill Trail in Quicksilver County Park, near the McAbee Rd. entrance (Janna Pauser).

In other news...Janna Pauser reports that on Dec. 30th a BROWN PELICAN was seen flying over Almaden Lake. Ann Verdi observed an Aleutian-type CACKLING GOOSE at Calero Reservoir on Dec. 18th, and saw the adult BALD EAGLE there on Dec. 19th, 21st, and 28th (it was not found on count day). Kathy Kleinsteiber reports that on Dec. 29th and 30th a PACIFIC LOON was on one of the percolation ponds near Coleman Ave., between Meridian and Almaden Expressway.

11 December, 2007 - Lately the big news has been Frank Vanslager's discovery of a HEERMANN'S GULL at Almaden Lake Park on December 8th (another Almaden Valley first, and a rare bird in the county). It was seen again the following day by John Meyer and Linda Sullivan. While (unsuccessfully) searching for the gull on the 10th, Bill Bousman found a RED-THROATED LOON on the lake. On Dec. 5th, along the Guadalupe River Trail near the VTA, Ann Verdi saw a SNOW GOOSE flying with a flock of CANADA GEESE - probably the same bird observed by Linda Sullivan at Almaden Lake on the 9th. Ann Verdi also reports that on Dec. 6th a COMMON X BARROW'S GOLDENEYE hybrid was at the SCVWD Pond, and was seen there again on the 8th. The WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and flock of CHIPPING SPARROWS have been seen at Jeffrey Fontana Park as recently as the 8th (Bob Reiling).

3 December, 2007 - On Nov. 29th, at  Jeffrey Fontana Park, a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW and 13 CHIPPING SPARROWS were reported by Al DeMartini. The Clay-colored Sparrow was refound there by Janna Pauser on the 30th. This appears to be the first confirmed Almaden Valley record of Clay-colored Sparrow. On the 30th Janna also had a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at  Jeffrey Fontana Park, a PEREGRINE FALCON and a MERLIN along the Guadalupe River Trail, and 9 YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIES (part of a local remnant population) on the Pierce Ranch yard near the McAbee entrance to Almaden Quicksilver Park.

28 November, 2007 - On Nov. 14th a RED-THROATED LOON was found at Calero Reservoir by Michael Mammoser. Ann Verdi reports that a COMMON LOON was also present there on Nov. 15th, and that as many as 30 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS were at the boat ramp parking area on Nov. 16th. The Red-throated Loon continued to be seen by birders through Nov. 17th (Al Eisner). On the 24th Janna Pauser had a PEREGRINE FALCON perched on a tower and 8 CHIPPING SPARROWS on the south side of the lawn at  Jeffrey Fontana Park, also a HOUSE WREN was along the Guadalupe River Trail between Blossom Hill Rd. and freeway 85.  Ann Verdi reports that on Nov. 27th a pair of HOODED MERGANSERS and 2 AMERICAN AVOCETS were at Calero Reservoir.

14 November, 2007 - Janna Pauser reports CHIPPING SPARROWS "everywhere!" at Jeffrey Fontana Park on Nov. 8th. The same day she had an OSPREY and 2 dark MERLINS along the Guadalupe River Trail. On the 9th Janna had a flock of 13 CHIPPING SPARROWS (an all-time Almaden Valley high count?) and a WHITE THROATED SPARROW at Jeffrey Fontana Park.

7 November, 2007 - Janna Pauser reports finding a flock of 12(!) CHIPPING SPARROWS in Jeffrey Fontana Park on Nov. 6th. They were in the grass near the entrance to the dog park on Golden Oak Way. That same day Ann Verdi reports that an EARED GREBE was on the main SCVWD pond, an OSPREY was in a tree near the SCVWD maintenance yard, and a PEREGRINE FALCON was perched on a ledge of the Highway 85 overpass.

31 October, 2007 - Janna Pauser had a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW along the path just past the bridge near the McAbee Rd. entrance to Almaden Quicksilver County Park on Oct. 30th. At Calero Reservoir on the 25th Ann Verdi had 1 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, 1 ALEUTIAN CACKLING GOOSE, 1 BROWN PELICAN (still present on  the morning of the 30th), and 6 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS. Amy McDonald reports that in a addition to the pelicans and GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE there was 1 COMMON LOON at Calero Reservoir on the 28th. 

16 October, 2007 - Janna Pauser reports that AMERICAN BITTERN, OSPREY, and WILSON'S SNIPE were among the species found at the SCVWD today.

9 October, 2007 - Ann Verdi reports that 2 AMERICAN AVOCETS (rarely found this far from the bay) were at Calero Reservoir on the 8th and 9th. A BROWN PELICAN also continues to be seen there. Janna Pauser reports that 2 male LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES were near the parking lot on the east side of Almaden Lake - a first record for Almaden Lake Park. A WESTERN TANAGER and WESTERN BLUEBIRDS were also in the area. A MERLIN was at the SCVWD. 

6 October, 2007 - Ann Verdi reported that a juvenile BROWN PELICAN was at the Calero Reservoir boat ramp. There were also at least 10 EARED GREBES and 3 WESTERN GREBES on the reservoir.

3 October, 2007 - Janna Pauser reports that a RING-NECKED DUCK and NASHVILLE WARBLER were at Almaden Lake Park, and an OSPREY was at the SCVWD.

25 September, 2007 - Ann Verdi had a MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER along the Guadalupe River Trail near the spillway opposite the SCVWD. She could not refind the Blackpoll Warbler reported by Janna, but birds near the creek outlet at Almaden Lake Park included a WILLOW FLYCATCHER, a WILSON'S WARBLER, YELLOW and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, and several NUTMEG MANNIKINS.

24 September, 2007 - Janna Pauser found an AMERICAN BITTERN along the Guadalupe River Trail at the SCVWD. Other birds seen along the GRT or at the SCVWD included a WILLOW FLYCATCHER, a WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, and 2 WESTERN TANAGERS.

23 September, 2007 - Janna Pauser reported that a BLACKPOLL WARBLER was in the riparian along Alamitos Creek near the pedestrian bridge at Almaden Lake Park.

20 September, 2007 - Janna Pauser reports that a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER was at Guadalupe Oak Grove Park. This is a first record for the Almaden Valley.

18 September, 2007 - Ann Verdi reports that today a NASHVILLE WARBLER was in the riparian along Alamitos Creek just south of the gate at the entrance to Almaden Lake Park. There were also 4 NORTHERN SHOVELERS at the creek inflow to Alamden Lake. 

5 September, 2007 - Janna Pauser had a SORA in the Guadalupe River channel behind the SCVWD, and a WILLOW FLYCATCHER along the Guadalupe River Trail north of Blossom Hill Rd. 

4 September, 2007 - Janna Pauser had 2 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES along the Alamitos Creek Trail south of the pedestrian bridge at Almaden Lake Park today. This apparently represents a first Almaden Valley record for this species. A MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER was also present there.

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