The Gull

M&O
Serials
QL 671
.G84

MONTHLY

Volume 20

SAN FRANCISCO, SEPTEMBER, 1938

Number 9

An Interesting Experience with Cooper Hawks

The writer during the week-end of August 6th visited Shelter Rock Ranch,
located in Reliz Canyon about ten miles, in an air line, west of King City. In a
creek bed not far distant from the ranch house there stands a dead willow tree.
On the flat, through which the creek runs, and within seventy-five feet of the
willow, several fairly large oaks thrive.

About mid-afternoon of August 6th, while the writer was walking along a
pathway paralleling the creek bed, a note taken for the harsh “pee-ee” of the
Western Wood Pewee, quite common on this ranch, was heard several times.
Its rather sharp tone indicated an angry bird and its quality created some doubt
as to the correctness of identification. Suddenly a female Cooper Hawk flew
from one of the oaks, but within a few moments she returned, alighted in plain
view and gave frequent utterance to a “far-reaching psee-ur.” There was no
question now that the note first heard was that of this hawk.

This particular note is not mentioned either by Dawson or Hoffmann, but
in “The Hawks of North America,” by John Buchard May, it is described as “a
far-reaching swee-ew or psee-ur.” Within a few moments the female with two
well-advanced young flew from the oaks into the willow, where they were plainly
seen and closely observed for some time during which the “far-reaching psee-ur”
was repeatedly uttered.

The mother and one of the young ones left, leaving the other behind, when
about fifteen Green-backed Goldfinches flew into the willow and perched not more
than five feet from this sharp-eyed predator, which heard their plaintive call as
they approached. A few tense moments were experienced, as a tragedy in bird
life was fully expected, for the hawk looked at them intently, opened its wings
as if to dart and strike, but instead it suddenly turned, gave a shrill cry and flew
into some alders on the opposite side of the creek bed.

Joseph J. Webb, San Francisco, California. August 18, 1938.

A Few Observations along the Bay Shore

Northern ducks have begun to arrive at Alvarado Gun Club, Pintails, Bald-
pates, Shovellers and Mallards being observed on August 17th.

At the Dumbarton Bridge were numbers of Avocets still in breeding plumage.
Two adult Avocets, evidently a pair, were standing on a dike some fifty feet apart
guarding two young birds feeding in the water below. There were hundreds of
Willets, many Farallon Cormorants, one American Egret, a few California Blue
and Black-crowned Night Herons and three Black Turnstones. Least and West-
ern Sandpipers were feeding on the approach, giving the observer an excellent
opportunity to study the difference in size as well as to see the greenish feet of
the Least. Thousands of Northern Phalaropes with a large number of California

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[September

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1938]

Gulls in adult and immature plumage and a lesser number of Bonaparte Gulls
and some Pintails covered the water. From a distance as this mixture of birds
floated, bobbed and swam about, they appeared in the early morning light like
so much flotsam and jetsam cast upon the water. On the Palo Alto side of the
bridge eight California Clapper Rail were feeding.

As I returned over the San Mateo Bridge at high tide I noted Avocets and
a large number of Godwits gathered on the salt ponds. At the Oakland Airport
many birds were resting, among them about two hundred Black-bellied Plovers,
five per cent of which were still in fine summer plumage. There were also hun-
dreds of sandpipers and Sanderlings as well as a few Semipalmated Plovers.
Some of the Sanderlings still had a pinkish cast on their breasts. On the Alameda
Bay shore Snowy Plovers were added to the species already mentioned.

On August 21st at the Airport there were again large numbers of Black-
bellied Plovers as well as a hundred or more Marbled Godwits, a few Dowitchers,
Willets and Hudsonian Curlews. Hundreds of smaller waders were resting on
the dry ground and along the Alameda Bay Shore Highway. On this date I saw
no Sanderlings with pinkish breasts. About ten Snowy Plovers were sitting in
little depressions in the sand but they were a restless lot and no sooner were all
peacefully squatted down than one would start to chase another out of his sand
hole. This would be the signal for each one to take up the game and chase out
another until all had changed their holes. This performance was repeated over
and over again. It was a comical sight — a study of speeding feet over the sand.

Junea W. Kelly, Alameda, California. August 26, 1938.

<£*— &

August Field Trip

The August field trip was taken on Sunday, the 14th, to Tennessee Cove,
Marin County. Only a few members turned out, probably because the day was
foggy and many thought that the trip offered little of interest. We did, however,
have a good list of birds considering the time of year — fifty species.

We had excellent views of many of the birds. The Western Gnatcatcher
gave a good account of himself, allowing everybody to see him at close range.
We saw or heard this species at not less than four places along the way. At the
large buckeye trees 1.3 miles from the station some six species of birds were
bathing, affording us excellent views of Warbling Vireos and Willow Goldfinches.
At the ranch 1.5 miles farther along seven Band-tailed Pigeons flew up from the
hedgerow. Several Pileolated and Macgillivray Warblers were found among the
willows beyond the creek at the last ranch.

The color across the marsh was lovely. The purplish stems of the pickle-
weed ( Salicornia am-bigua ) and the lavender bloom of the sea lavender or marsh
rosemary ( Limonium commune) gave a soft glow which was accented by clumps
of yellow flowers of the grindelia. Along the roadside the greenish yellow of
sweet fennel ( Foeniculurn vulgare ) added a pleasant note, while in the low places
one of the mints was in full bloom. It was strange to find that some of the buck-
eyes were still in flower.

Geologically the walk has several interesting features. The road passes
through Elk Valley, which extends across the Marin Peninsula from the head of
Richardson Bay to Tennessee Cove. This narrow valley with its steep mountain
sides of sandstone lies at right angles to the Marin fault block. The highest point
of the valley bottom is about midway between bay and ocean at a little less than
200 feet elevation. Here is the divide that sends the water of one small creek
to Richardson Bay and the other to the ocean. At one point along the road there
is a fine exhibit of folded chert. The rocks belong to the Franciscan Group.
There are large boulders beautifully covered with lichens in variety.

Most of the party went only as far as the usual lunch place by the big rock
under the old oak tree. A few went as far as the government sign. Charles

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[September

T HE GULL

1938 J

The following birds were identified:

Brown Pelican
Farallon Cormorant
California Heron
Turkey Vulture
Duck Hawk
Sparrow Hawk
California Quail
Hudsonian Curlew
Western Willet
Western Gull
California Gull
Heermann Gull
Band-tailed Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Allen Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-shafted Flicker

Black Phoebe

Western Flycatcher

Cliff Swallow

Barn Swallow

Rough-winged Swallow

Coast Jay

Nicasio Jay

Raven

Crow

Plain Titmouse
Nicasio Chickadee
Coast Bush-tit
Ruddy Wren-tit
Nicasio Wren
Western Robin
Western Bluebird
Western Gnatcatcher

Warbling Vireo
Lutescent Warbler
Macgillivray Warbler
Pileolated Warbler
Brewer Blackbird
House Sparrow
House Finch
Willow Goldfinch
Green-backed Goldfinch
Pine Siskin
San Francisco Towhee
S. F. Brown Towhee
Lark Sparrow
Junco

Nuttall Sparrow
Song Sparrow

After hearing an account of Shearwaters seen near the Cliff House, most of
us decided that we would return to San Francisco and try our luck. We took
the 1:45 p. m. train. Although the Shearwaters were out beyond the Seal Rocks
and the red buoy, we did have the satisfaction of seeing what seemed to be an
endless flight of birds passing low over the water. We walked along the water’s
edge to Lincoln Park, adding the following birds: Sooty Shearwaters, Brandt
Cormorants, Surfbird, Black Turnstone and Anna Hummingbird. Phalaropes
were riding the waves and at least some seemed to be Red Phalaropes, but the
strong wind made it difficult to see distinctly.

Ten members attended: Mesdames Courtright, Kelly; Misses Blake, Maclver,
Werner; Messrs. Bremer, Hansen, Kirker, Myer and Wells.

Although shore birds do not visit San Francisco in large numbers, a few
occasionally appear at the lakes in Golden Gate Park, at Lake Merced and along
the ocean beach. It makes an interesting study to compare records of them.
As it is now shore-bird time, it is hoped that members will be on the lookout
for any of the species and report them either at our meetings or by post-card.

Western Willets: In The Condor, XVIII, No. 6, December, 1916, H. W. Carriger
“noted this species in spring at Lake Merced.’’ Later records are: three seen in
Presidio, July 24, 1928, by Mrs. Stephens; near Cliff House, April 15, 1934, by
Carl R. Smith, and fourteen seen at Lake Merced, August 10, 1938, by Harold
Kirker.

In the “Directory to the Birdlife of San Francisco Bay Region,” Mountain
Plovers: “vicinity of San Francisco, January 26, 1898”: Marbled Godwits and
Avocets: “have been observed in vicinity of San Francisco”; American Golden
Plover: “found one or more times (previous to 1884) near San Francisco.” To
these may be added one more record for the Golden Plover: one seen at Lake
Merced, October 14, 1931, by Commander Parmenter.

Long-billed Curlew: on the beach near Cliff House two May 15, 1933, and
ten November 17, 1931, by Commander and Mrs. Parmenter.

Solitary Sandpiper: seen at Lake Merced, September 13 and 20, 1931, by
Carl R. Smith; September 14 and 15 by Mr. and Mrs. Stephens; and in Golden
Gate Park, September 11, 1932, by Carl R. Smith.

Junea W. Kelly, Leader and Historian.

Shore Birds in San Francisco County

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[September

THE GULL

1938]

The list of shore birds for San Francisco includes Black-bellied Plovers,
Killdeer, Semipalmated and Snowy Plovers, Surf-birds, Ruddy and Black Turn-
stones, Wilson Snipe, Hudsonian Curlews, Spotted Sandpipers, Wandering Tat-
tlers, Greater Yellow-legs, Pectoral, Least, Red-backed and Western Sandpipers,
Long-billed Dowitchers and Sanderlings. Some of these species occur quite
frequently, while others are seen only occasionally.— Laura A. Stephens.

Audubon Notes

September Meeting: The regular
meeting will be held on Thursday eve-
ning, the 8th, in room 19, Ferry Build-
ing, at 8 o’clock.

Jt— <£*

Directors’ Meeting: There will be a
meeting of the directors before the reg-
ular meeting in the office of Mr. B. K.
Dunsliee, room 714, 245 Market Street,
at 6:30 p. m.

^

September Field Trip will be taken
to Alameda to study shore birds, Sep-
tember 18th, one week later than our
usual date. San Francisco members
take the 8:45 a. m. Alameda boat and
Encinal Avenue train to High Street
Station South, meeting there at 9:30
a. m. Bring luncheon. Leader, Mrs.
Junea W. Kelly.

August Meeting: The 252nd regular
meeting was held on the 11th, in room
19, Ferry Building, with seventeen
members and guests present. President
Junea W. Kelly presiding.

The following observations were re-
ported :

Mrs. Kelly: Alameda, Mockingbird,
August 22nd and 24th.

Harold Kirker: Cliff House, Wander-
ing Tattler, Land’s End, thirty Black
Turnstones, four Ravens July 25th;
Metson Lake, sixty Northern Phala-

ropes; Chain of Lakes, Ash-throated
Flycatcher, small flock of Rough-winged
Swallows, August 23rd.

Commander Parmenter : San Francisco
Beach, twenty Sanderlings, July 25th;
Cliff House, Wandering Tattler, July
22nd; seven Black Turnstones, 25th;
one Surf-bird, 26th; one Ruddy Turn-
stone, 27th; Mountain View marshes,
ten Black-bellied Plovers, 30th; Alva-
rado, one Hudsonian Curlew, ten Great-
er Yellow-legs, forty-five Avocets, 30th;
Dumbarton Bridge, 2000± California
Gulls; San Mateo Bridge, thirteen
Semipalmated Plovers, fifty Black-
bellied Plovers, 1500± Willets, twenty-
five Forster Terns; both bridges, 6000±
Northern Phalaropes, twenty-four Cas-
pian Terns, July 30th.

Mrs. Saunders: Berkeley, male

Western Tanager, August 9th.

The evening was devoted to vacation
experiences; Miss Blake reported on
the Grand Canyon of Arizona; Mr.
Stephens on the Trinity Alps Region;
Mr. Webb on Sequoia National Park;
Mr. Johnson on the Upper Basin of the
Middle Fork of King’s River Canyon;
Mrs. Saunders on Mono Lake; Harold
Kirker on Cazadero and Lake Tahoe;
Miss Rinehart on a trip to Springfield,
Illinois; and Mrs. Kelly on Churchill,
Manitoba, Canada. Mr. Bradley showed
some very excellent Kodachrome slides
of both cultivated and wild flowers.

Audubon Association of the Pacific

Organized January 25, 1917

For the Study cmd the Protection of Birds

President. Mrs. G. Earle Kelly 1311 Grand St., Alameda, Calif.

Corresponding Secretary ... C. B. Lastreto 260 California St., San Francisco

Treasurer Mrs. A. B. Stephens^ 1695 Filbert St., San Francisco

Monthly meeting second Thursday, 8 P. M., Room 19, Ferry Building.

Address Bulletin correspondence to Mrs. A. B. Stephens, Editor, 1695 Filbert St., San Francisco.

Membership dues, payable January 1st, $3.00 per year.

Student memberships, $1.50 per year. Life memberships, $50.00.

Members are responsible for dues until written notice of resignation is received by Treasurer.

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