http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/ Post bird sightings, questions and other information regarding Stanislaus County, California. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:51:07 GMT Harold Reeve http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1442 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1442 Dates for Stanislaus County Christmas Bird Counts are: La Grange-Waterford: Saturday, December 19, 2009. Caswell-Westley: Sunday, December 27, 2009. I will Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:10:00 GMT Joe Devine http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1441 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1441 We spent about 3 hrs. this afternoon looking over the birds at Merced NWR. Notables included - Herring Gull - 3 adults, 1 juvenile (possibly more buried in the Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:14:04 GMT salvatore salerno http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1440 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1440 I went with Daniel Gilman up Del Puerto Canyon earlier this morning. We had two SAGE SPARROWS (belli) just up the road from the pull-out on mile 19.7, on the Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:48:27 GMT Frances Oliver http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1439 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1439 Sandhill Crane Festival, Nov 6-8, 2009 There are several events of interest to birders at this year's Sandhill Crane Festival in Lodi. Saturday's featured Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:29:59 GMT John Harris http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1438 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1438 I tried unsuccessfully to locate the Sage Sparrow this morning. I did see a Mountain Bluebird near the location, however. Perhaps new for our collective Big Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:23:00 GMT Jeff N Davis http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1437 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1437 If we are speculating about subspecies based on likelihood and not on plumage, this bird is most likely of the Great Basin breeding race, nevadensis. This Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:30:03 GMT salvatore salerno http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1436 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1436 When you get to Lake Road, turn right to get to Davis Road. Thanks, Bill Amundsen.. The Sage Sparrow was more likely the canscens race. Thanks to John Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:41:05 GMT salvatore salerno http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1435 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1435 Upon request, here are better directions to look for the adult SAGE SPARROW (belli). Take Highway 132 through Waterford and turn south on Roberts Ferry Road Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:13:21 GMT salvatore salerno http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1434 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1434 This morning, I took my Early Birders class to La Grange and the Turlock Lake area, where we had 64 species. Dawson Lake had three MUTE SWANS, BUFFLEHEADS, Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:31:09 GMT Joe Devine http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1433 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1433 I relocated the Cassin's Kingbird this afternoon in the far NW corner of the campus (corner of 2nd & G Streets). I went back around to 2nd & intended to come Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:55:23 GMT salvatore salerno http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1432 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1432 There was a lone HERRING GULL at the Turlock Lake outlet canal on Davis Road earlier this morning. I had a MERLIN further up that road, as well as a PRAIRIE Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:38:21 GMT Harold Reeve http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1431 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1431 Regarding the gender of Joe Devine's Cassin's Kingbird at MJC West campus, it does appear to me to be a male. (Yes, it is Joe's bird - he found it first Sat, 24 Oct 2009 23:03:16 GMT salvatore salerno http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1430 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1430 I took my Early Birders class this morning to the string-of-pearls parks on the Stanislaus River, and we enjoyed 56 species out there. The most notable were a Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:39:36 GMT John Harris http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1429 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1429 A brief walk at Orange Blossom Rec. Area yielded a female Western Tanager (foraging in grape vines/blackberries). I think this is somewhat late. Otherwise Sat, 24 Oct 2009 03:06:17 GMT littlebitrv http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1428 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STA_Birds/message/1428 Medeiros Recreation Area off Hwy 33 just north of Hwy 152 Sage Thrasher is still there. Today he spent a lot of time in a tree in the same area. When I got