(click on image for larger view)
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Claremont Canyon Owls
April this year has been a fantastic month for birding. Among all other increased bird activities during this month, what was more special was that residents of the bay area were able to observe the Great Horned Owl's nesting right beside a trail on the Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve in Berkeley. Thanks to a fellow bird blogger through whom I came to know about this and with his help I was able to find the nesting tree. If you would like to have the directions to the place, please see his blog posthere.
It's such a rare opportunity to see the Owl's nesting so close to the trail where you could observe them from less than just 15 feet away. A word of caution though is try not to be too intrusive, especially when they are sleeping and avoid using flash photography.
I drove up there twice in last two weekends, and wow what a remarkable change a single week can make in their growth! Among the three owlets, each one seems to have a unique personality, the little one is the cutest and has a very graceful look (but wait until they all grow up and show us how fierce they can be), the eldest one seems to be the quiet and shy one, and the middle one is the funniest character, much fun to watch them and are so adorable when they wobble their head in a circular motion. I've tried my best to capture each of their unique personalities in my photographs.
What is also interesting is how fast the news has spread in a week, the first time I was up there very few people knew about it and people who walked up the trail would notice others standing in groups and watching something, then they would ask what it is they are looking at and would be surprised to see the owls! The second week almost everyone who walked by knew where the owls were and I could tell many have been watching them regularly. One of the residents of the area mentioned that she has been hearing these owls for many years regularly in the area but this was the first time she saw them nesting. It is indeed quite a treat for all of us.
This below image was taken a week later..
It's such a rare opportunity to see the Owl's nesting so close to the trail where you could observe them from less than just 15 feet away. A word of caution though is try not to be too intrusive, especially when they are sleeping and avoid using flash photography.
I drove up there twice in last two weekends, and wow what a remarkable change a single week can make in their growth! Among the three owlets, each one seems to have a unique personality, the little one is the cutest and has a very graceful look (but wait until they all grow up and show us how fierce they can be), the eldest one seems to be the quiet and shy one, and the middle one is the funniest character, much fun to watch them and are so adorable when they wobble their head in a circular motion. I've tried my best to capture each of their unique personalities in my photographs.What is also interesting is how fast the news has spread in a week, the first time I was up there very few people knew about it and people who walked up the trail would notice others standing in groups and watching something, then they would ask what it is they are looking at and would be surprised to see the owls! The second week almost everyone who walked by knew where the owls were and I could tell many have been watching them regularly. One of the residents of the area mentioned that she has been hearing these owls for many years regularly in the area but this was the first time she saw them nesting. It is indeed quite a treat for all of us.
This below image was taken a week later..
Peregrine Falcon Nest Cam
A couple of years ago, employees from the San Jose City Hall building found that there were a pair of Peregrine Falcons on the roof of their building, and they observed their presence quite regularly. This information was passed on to the right authorities and later a research group from UCSC setup a nest box in the same building hoping that they will take it. During mid Februrary last year the pair started to inhabit the nest, laid three eggs and the three hatched in June of last year. The research team had also set up a nest cam to watch them live anytime.
This year again, the female from last year and a new male has taken up the nest and have new young ones. You can watch them live using this link.
This year again, the female from last year and a new male has taken up the nest and have new young ones. You can watch them live using this link.
Monday, April 14, 2008
American Dipper
On Sunday (4/13), I went back to Stevens Creek County Park in the morning around 8:30 am to check out the Sapsucker (which I saw the day before) but didn't see it on Sunday, so I went to checkout the Dippers. I found the Dipper pair again today at the same spot that Vivek found them on Saturday, with the helpful tip from Pati. I accompanied Vivek earlier, so I knew where it was.
If you would like to see them, as you pull out from the Cooley Picnic area turn right and proceed further south on Stevens Canyon Rd, stop at the turnover next to the third bridge (third if you include the bridge exiting the cooley picnic area). Walk backwards for few yards and cross the road and you will see the stream to your right, the dipper pair is right below the road.
The pair is actively involved in building a nest, I have photographs of them carrying nesting material and coming in and out of their nest. Its a bit dark for photography with trees covering for most part. During the time I was there, they were pretty friendly and it didn't seem to mind my presence even when I was close to them shooting at eye level!.
With nesting material,
At its nest,
If you would like to see them, as you pull out from the Cooley Picnic area turn right and proceed further south on Stevens Canyon Rd, stop at the turnover next to the third bridge (third if you include the bridge exiting the cooley picnic area). Walk backwards for few yards and cross the road and you will see the stream to your right, the dipper pair is right below the road.
The pair is actively involved in building a nest, I have photographs of them carrying nesting material and coming in and out of their nest. Its a bit dark for photography with trees covering for most part. During the time I was there, they were pretty friendly and it didn't seem to mind my presence even when I was close to them shooting at eye level!.
With nesting material,
At its nest,
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Missed and Found
Many birders in the area are currently flocking to the Stevens creek county park to get a peek at the Red-Naped Sapsucker (RNSA) which has been repeatedly found at the base of a V-Shaped Sycamore in the Cooley Picnic area. I went there to take a look yesterday but unfortunately I missed it. It is said that the best time to observe is in the morning 9 am or when the activity around the area is minimum. To avoid scaring the bird away it is best to position yourself atleast 25 yards away.
On the way back, I decided to stop at the Mc Clellan Ranch. And what a surprise! The place was filled with activity! There were plenty of birds at their feeder constantly keeping them busy and often fighting for a spot on the feeder. I saw Nuttal's woodpecker, Acorn woodpecker picking up the acorn from the roof top and stashing them inside a secret spot, they were flying back and forth between the trees and the roof, Hooded Oriole (male), White-breasted Nuthatch, Anna's Hummingbird, Lesser Goldfinch, Spotted Towhee, Dark-eyed Junco, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, House Finch, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow etc.
Some pictures from the trip..
Nuttal's Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker
You can see more images from here.
On the way back, I decided to stop at the Mc Clellan Ranch. And what a surprise! The place was filled with activity! There were plenty of birds at their feeder constantly keeping them busy and often fighting for a spot on the feeder. I saw Nuttal's woodpecker, Acorn woodpecker picking up the acorn from the roof top and stashing them inside a secret spot, they were flying back and forth between the trees and the roof, Hooded Oriole (male), White-breasted Nuthatch, Anna's Hummingbird, Lesser Goldfinch, Spotted Towhee, Dark-eyed Junco, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, House Finch, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow etc.
Some pictures from the trip..
Nuttal's Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker
You can see more images from here.
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