Spring Day on Mines Road, April 10, 1999

Weather:  cold, occasional rain, overcast.

Most important sighting was Art Edwards of Livermore, out with a friend.  This is Mr. Bird of Livermore area.  Been hitting the hot spots there for two decades, leads trips, etc.  He handed me the updated milepost summary of Mines & Del Puerto Canyon that can replace the 15 year old Jean Richmond chapter. Here is a summary of Art's superb birding data for Livermore and Mines Road: http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/LivermoreL&C.rtf.

Murrieta's Well Road:  Great Horned Owl, Nuttall's Woodpeckers, singing Bullock's Orioles, YB Magpies in riparian.  NOFL, MODO, KILL, YRWA, BRBL, RWBL, SCJA, BLPH, WCSP, HOFI

MP .9 (approx) We. Meadowlark, Sav. Sparrow, Oak Titmouse, EUST, YBMA, WCSP. GCSP, BRBL, RWBL.

MP 2.0 Ac. Woodpecker, Kestrel

MP 2.5 AMRO

MP 3.0 Wild Turkey calling, Sharp-shinned Hawk

MP 4.2 West. Bluebird, Mockingbird, BH Cowbird, RWBL, BRBL, BLPH, WCSP, SCJA

MP 5.54 Cal. Thrasher singing, Wrentit singing, ANHU, PUFI, RTHA, BUOR, CAQU singing, SCJA, FOSP

MP 5.6 Roadrunner running across road, twice, FOSP, CORA, Lark Sparrow.  CATH, SCJA, Kestrel, Mallard

MP 7.0 OC Warbler, DEJU, SPTO, BEWR, SCJA, OATI, MODO

MP 8.19 By small pond west of road:  Kingfisher, VG Swallow, BUOR, SCJA, HOFI, wild Turkey

MP 8.52 HETH, WIWR, WEBL, SCJA, YRWA, WREN, MODO

MP 8.70 Lo. Shrike, TUVU, SCJA, ANHU, CAQU, HOFI

MP 9.94 BEWR, ACWO, SCJA, RCKI, TUVU, RTHA

MP 10.0 CATO

MP 11.1 St. Jay

MP 11.96 Linc. Sparrow, BEWR, CATO, SCJA

MP 12.63 NOFL, SCJA, ACWO, WEBL, CATH, CATO, SPTO, OATI

MP 13.8 WB Nuthatch, HETH, YRWA, SCJA, RCKI

MP 14.5 Co. Merganser in creek

MP 15.2 (at bridge) BLPH, GCSP, OATI, HETH, WEBL, Kestrel

MP 16.5 AMRO, BEWR, CORA, FOSP, GCSP

MP 20 Wood Duck in creek

Side Trip into Del Valle Park:  COOT, PBGR, RBGU, WEGU, VGSW, Northern Rough-wing, Gr.  Yellowlegs, WREN, OCWA, WCSP, AMRO, AMCR, TUVU, CAQU, SCJA, YBMA, RSHA, GREG

In Santa Clara County

Ponds, west of road:  Bufflehead, SOSP, BASW, BLHE, CORA, SPTO, SCJA, YRWA, NUWO, MALL

The Junction:  ALHU, ANHU, ACWO, DEJU, AMRO, BLPH, PUFI, GCSP, WCSP, OAT

.3 mi. so. of The Junction:  TRSW, VGSW, EUST, BRBL, WEBL, Kestrel nesting in oak, TUVU, CORA

YL Ranch Road, 5 mi. south of Junction:  WEME, WEBL, NOFL, ACWO

Missed:  Lew. Woodpecker, all goldfinches, any unusual warblers or hummies, all vireos and flycatcher (save BLPH), Golden Eagle, BT Pigeon, Pr. Falcon, Tanager, Gnatcatcher.

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