In an amazing vocal performance, three species of owls were heard in Claremont Canyon before dawn on Saturday, December 11. Led by Dave Quady, an owl expert and aficionado, a dozen participants in a Conservancy birding field trip heard the following:
Great Horned Owl - five or more, vocalizing at the same time,
Northern Saw-Whet Owl - two (duet), and
Western Screech-Owl - at least one, maybe two
After breakfast the group birded along Claremont Avenue between Gelston St. and Grizzly Peak Blvd., with choice of locations limited by the lingering fog (click here for a slide show). Highlights included Hutton’s Vireo and Ruby-crowned Kinglet (species often difficult to tell apart) in the same willows, a female Townsend’s Warbler (photo, right), and a dozen or more Dark-eyed Juncos. In all, 28 bird species were seen or heard.
Red-shouldered Hawk
Western Screech-Owl
Great Horned Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Anna's Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Black Phoebe
Steller's Jay
Western Scrub-Jay
Hutton's Vireo
Cedar Waxwing
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Bewick's Wren
Bushtit
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Wrentit
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Oak Titmouse
Lesser Goldfinch
House Finch
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Townsend's Warbler
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
Of natural history interest were inky cap mushrooms (Coprinopsis lagopus, per Debbie Viess), and coyote brush covered with wintering ladybugs (Hippodamia convergens, per Ken Schneider).
