We began the count just after sunrise along Casa Loma
Road.
Shiny Side Down
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Audubon Christmas Bird Count, Calero/Morgan Hill Casa Loma Rd. & OSA Rancho Property, 28 December 2002 Santa Clara County Open Space Authority |
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We began the count just after sunrise along Casa Loma
Road. |
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| Recent rains, soggy landscape, derelict old walnut orchard. | ||
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| Birds seemed to sense the impending storm and stayed under cover. | ||
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| Area is a patchwork of orchards, ranches and small farms. | ||
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| We scouted both sides of the road for birds. | ||
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| And kept a weather eye on the brooding skies overhead expecting rain. | ||
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| Birds had drilled this tree trunk full of holes looking for insects. | ||
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| OSA volunteers Dave Stormont & Dave Burnham scan a creek area for birds. | ||
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| Rustic footpath bridge over a rain-swollen creek. | ||
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| Winter flooding can render this creek impassible to traffic. | ||
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| Volunteers searched carefully for birds along a 2-3 mile stretch of road. | ||
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| Continuing on, we left the paved road behind. | ||
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| Entering OSA's Rancho Property, we followed a trail up a canyon. | ||
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| Stepping over, around, sometimes through a creek to get to the other side. | ||
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| Runoff from recent storms caused this stream to overflow its banks. | ||
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| Amethyst Laccaria | Acorn-studded Oak | Earth Stars |
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| We found a California Newt along the tail to Hidden Lake. | ||
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| Consulting bird book for correct ID before making note of a sighting. | ||
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| Poor light made it difficult to see birds along the far shore. | ||
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| Scanning the lake for waterfowl. | ||
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| Beyond the reservoir, the trail climbed towards a high ridge. | ||
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| A Golden Eagle was sighted in this area last year. | ||
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| We scanned the winter-bare oaks on both sides of the trail for birds. | ||
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| Oak woodlands shelter many different bird species. | ||
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| Returning downhill after birding along the summit. | ||
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| Surrounding hillsides were a tapestry of colors and textures. | ||
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| Winter run-off cuts a path across a meadow. | ||
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| Happy volunteers at conclusion of count. | ||
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Shiny Side Down |
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| A 9-1-1 call brought out the San Jose Fire Department. | ||
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| Overturned SUV mid-creek; no sign of driver. | ||
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| OSA's Pat Congdon (right) oversees SUV removal from creek bed | ||
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| Local Highway Patrol also responded to the accident. | ||
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Return
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Top. |
Go to Bird Counts |
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