Birding with The Knitist

Song Sparrow
Originally uploaded by Bill Walker.

We took advantage of a break in the weather to introduce our friend The Knitist to the glories of birding at Charleston Slough.

In Stevens Creek County Park, we walked from the Villa Maria picnic area uphill into Fremont Older Open Space Preserve. There, overlooking the abandoned quarry, we saw VAUX's and WHITE-THROATED SWIFT circling with NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS. All three species were flying at eye level, affording excellent views. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was heard singing loudly from the bottom of the quarry. We found no dippers at the fourth bridge over Stevens Creek, where water levels were very high.

A breeding plumage BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER was seen from the observation platform at Charleston Slough, along with 28 BLACK SKIMMERS.

Two EARED GREBES in breeding plumage were seen from west the end of Shoreline Lake.

McClellan Ranch yielded many cooperate feeder birds plus a male WESTERN TANAGER in the sycamores above the creek, just at the entrace to the trail. A single WOOD DUCK flew rapidly overhead. Both BULLOCK's and HOODED ORIOLES were near the Audubon office building.

Grand total for the day -- 91 species. Pretty impressive!
(Trip notes at birdWalker, Photos at flickr)