On Thursday, Apr 22, the Almaden Eagles team of Janna Pauser, Kirsten Holmquist and Ann Verdi went out for our annual Birdathon. Using the guidelines set up last year, we again participated individually with each of us covering specific areas within the Almaden area and nearby vicinity. Areas covered included Hicks Rd, Mt Umunhum trailheads, New Almaden, Almaden Reservoir & Twin Creeks, Calero Creek trail, Calero Reservoir, Santa Teresa CP / Stile Ranch trailhead, Canada del Oro, Chesbro area, part of Coyote Valley, Los Capitancillos Ponds, Almaden Lake, Los Alamitos Creek trail to Mazzone, Santa Clara Valley Water District.
Chipping Sparrow on Harry Road orchard by Janna Pauser
The day began cloudy & overcast, warning up to sunshine by mid-day with winds picking up by late day. Although we didn;t get all the birds we had hoped for (no eagle this year), we ended up with a respectable total of 107 species - springtime arrivals, hold-overs from the wintering season, and our resident birds.
Here are some samples of the birds found:
7 duck species (including Wood Duck)
4 grebe species (including Eared Grebe)
6 swallow species (including Purple Martin)
6 raptor-type species (including Peregrine Falcon)
4 wren species (including Rock Wren)
5 flycatcher-type species (including W. Wood-Pewee)
10 sparrow-type species (including Chipping, Lark & Grasshopper Sparrows)
6 warbler species (including Black-throated Gray Warbler)
and other birds of interest (including Lazuli Bunting, Yellow-billed Magpie, Wrentit)
With nesting season underway, we were also able to observe birds nest building (N. Rough-winged Swallows) and on nest (Warbling Vireo). Mallards & Gadwalls now have young at the Los Capitancillos Ponds, and for the second year in a row, Canada Geese are now raising young in the second pond west of Meridian Ave. A total of four Great Blue Heron nests have been established on the heron/egret nesting island at Almaden Lake, and Great-tailed Grackles have begun their courtship/nesting behavior both at Almaden Lake and the Los Capitancillos Ponds.
We had a good day with each one of us contributing special birds from the areas we covered to the overall total of birds found. We hope to give it a go again next year.