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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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September

THE GULL

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

THE GULL

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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September

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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