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Aerials 3L 671 G84
THE
MONTHLY
Volume 29 San Francisco, California, September, 1947 No. 9
Some Southcentral California Birds
A recent trip to southcentral California afforded a pleasant opportunity for bird study. Most of my observations were made from my uncle’s home, on a hill overlooking the Salinas River at Atascadero, San Luis Obispo County, California. Although the river was nearly dry on my visit on June 2 8 and 29, 1947, the heavy growth of willow, sycamore and cottonwood in and along the river’s bed proved attractive to wild life.
One bird which I was especially interested in was a hawk which called loudly and often in the wooded hills near the house. Its location was easy to trace at all times because of the vociferous calling. On the afternoon of the 29th it called from close by and I found it squatting, breast down, on a large limb of an oak tree. Four of us who were out for a walk ap- proached cn the dirt road close to the tree and I watched it for some time. Finally several small rocks were tossed into the tree, at least one of which struck the limb on which the bird was perched, but it did not frighten the hawk. Such a lack of fear was unusual to me. It continued to call "Kee-a kee-a kee-a” more or less unconcerned over our presence, until it flew of its own accord to a digger pine across the gully. It was my first acquaintance with a Red-bellied Ffawk (Buteo lineatus elegans).
To one who has few birds in his yard other than English Sparrows, Fiouse Finches and Brewer Blackbirds during the summer, the wealth of bird life here was a source of great enjoyment. Seventeen species inside of an hour visited the yard, paying no attention to my presence as I sat on the front steps with my field glasses. These I listed in my note book as follows:
Mexican Bluebird (Western) Ash-throated Flycatcher Black Phoebe
Arkansas Goldfinch (Green-backed) Anna Hummingbird Chipping Sparrow
Lark Sparrow Brown Towhee House Finch (Linnet) California Jay Western Flycatcher Wood Pc wee
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1947
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Western) Acorn Woodpecker (California)
White-breasted Nuthatch Mourning Dove
(Slender-billed) Phainopepla
On my trip back home from Atascadero, I stepped at the Coalinga Mineral Springs in Fresno County. On the trimming of a post supporting the porch of the hotel at the springs was a nest of the Say Phoebe. It was a warm day and the bird, after flying off, was in no hurry to return. I inspected the nest and its four white eggs which looked as though they were advanced in incubation. I have heretofore known this species only in the bay region where it occurs as a winter visitant, so was pleased to observe it in its nesting territory.
— Emerson A. Stoner, Benicia, California.
Board of Directors Meeting
The Board of Directors of the Audubon Association of the Pacific will meet at 8:00 P. M. on September 16, at the home of Dr. and Mrs. T. Eric Reynolds, 140 Estates Drive, Piedmcnt, California.
Observations
Edited by Junea W. Kelly
Western Gnatcatcher, August 10, Camp Dimond, Oakland, Brighton C. Cain.
6 Black-necked Stilts, thousands of Northern Phalaropes, near Hayward approach to Dumbarton Bridge, August 7, Mrs. Vee Curtis.
5 Western Tanagers, August 2, behind Saint Mary’s College, Contra Costa Co., pair of Arizona Hooded Orioles, July 18-23, Oakland; 6 Snow Egrets, August 13, Lake Merritt, Miss Margaret Milwain.
4 Red Phalaropes, August 6, 10 Pintail Ducks, August 19, Bay Farm Island, Alameda, Mrs. Junea W. Kelly.
Arizona Hooded Oriole, August 2, 3, 4, Oakland, Miss Amy Rinehart.
5 Red Phalaropes, August 8, Berkeley Aquatic Park, Mrs. Dorothy Dean Sheldon.
August Field Trip
On Sunday, August 17, we set out on our trip to Ross with gray skies overhead. Northern Phalaropes, Willets and Western Sandpipers along the Bayshore Highway detained Mrs. Stowell’s party for a few minutes on its way to the Richmond Ferry. Other members coming on the bus from San Francisco had a brief glimpse of the egret and Great Blue Heron. By the
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September
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1947
time we arrived at our meeting place in Ross the fog had vanished completely and the sun shone warmly from a blue sky. Chestnut-backed Chickadees greeted us as soon as we arrived and their notes continued throughout the day.
Undet the expert leadership of Mr. Jean Ad. F. Dubois we started eft for the lakes. Mr. Dubois suspected the presence of a Western Tanager (C/. The Gull, September, 1946) along the route, but the bird was heard only briefly and never seen, so that certain identification was not possible. All along the up-hill trail to Phoenix Lake and Lake Lagumtas we were puzzled by elusive voices high in the redwood trees. We spent many minutes waiting for a clear view of the shy tree-top dwellers whese voices we heard. A Pileo- lated Warbler paused long enough for us to see his black cap, and several Brown Creepers crept up trunks and along branches in plain sight. A Bullock Oriole flashed past, flying low. Two deer paused to look at us while we were looking at the birds.
A notable event was the discovery of a rattle snake on a bank beside the trail. The snake showed no interest in furthering our acquaintance. On the contrary, it beat a hasty retreat down its hole in the bank. Mr. Dubois pursued it with a stick, hoping to capture it alive, but the snake had made good its escape.
Phoenix Lake yielded three Belted Kingfishers, two large turtles and a bull frog. No birds were seen on the calm blue water. Lake Lagunitas was seemingly untenanted by birds. At the picnic grounds Townsend Warblers, in all their brilliant plumage, were active in the trees over the stream. Among them was a Black-throated Gray Warbler, which flew down to alight on a stone in the stream, where it gave us an excellent view of its charac- teristic field marks. In all, twenty-seven species of birds were seen at Ross and five others en route.
Ten members and six guests were present. Members included Mesdames C. R. Sfowell and B. W. Stone; the Misses Alfreda Berg, Camilla Paroni, Clelia Paroni, Minnie H. Young, Hazel Walsh, and Victoria Johnson; Messrs. Jean M. F. Dubois and Harold G. Peterson. Guests included Mrs. Harold G. Peterson, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Johnson, Masters Robert Peterson and Rich- ard Keller, and Mr. Warren L. Flock.
Birds seen near Ross:
Mourning Dove Anna Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher
Turkey Vulture Red-tailed Hawk California Quail
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1947
THE
Acorn Woodpecker (Calif.)
Downy Woodpecker Steller Jay California Jay Chestnut-backed Chickadee Plain Titmouse Townsend Warbler Pileolated Warbler Bullock Oriole
GULL
Brown Creeper Wren-tit Western Robin Ruby-crowned Kinglet Huttcn Vireo
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Spotted Towhee Oregon Junco Song Sparrow
Historian — Victoria Johnson.
House Finch Pine Siskin Arkansas Goldfinch (Green-backed)
September Meeting
The 3 60th meeting of the Audubon Association of the Pacific will be held in the Assembly Room of the San Francisco Public Library, at Larkin and McAllister Streets. Meet at 8:00 p. m. on September 11. Dr. T. Eric Reynolds will be the speaker of the evening. His topic will be, The Shifting Bird Populations of the San Francisco Bay Area.”
September Field Trip
The September "Shore bird” field trip will take place on Sunday, Sept-
ember 14, in the vicinity of Alameda and Bay Farm Island. S. F. members take the "O” bus from the S. F. Terminal at 12:00 p. m. and get off at High and Santa Clara Streets in Alameda. East Bay members transfer to the Alameda bus at Broadway and 16th Streets in Oakland, and get off at place designated above. The party will lunch in Lincoln Park (Alameda) at 12:30 p. m. and proceed from there to Bay Farm Island, thence to Fern- side. High tide will be at 11:30 a. m., so the shorebirds should begin to come in around 1:30 p. m. Bring luncheon and binoculars.
Audubon Association of the Pacific
Organized January 25, 1917
For the Study and the Protection of Birds
President Dr. T. Eric Reynolds 140 Estates Drive, Piedmont 11
Corresponding Secretary Mr. Joseph J. Webb 519 California St., San Francisco 4
Treasurer Miss Ivander Maclver 2414 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley 4
gditor Miss Grace Irene Crowe 1420 Henry St., Berkeley 7
Monthly meetings second Thursday, 8:00 p. m.
Assembly Room, San Francisco Public Library, Larkin and McAllister Sts., San Francisco Membership dues, payable January 1st, $3.00 per year
Student memberships, $1.50 per year Life memberships, $50.00
Subscription, $1.00 per year
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