birds

Santa Clara County, June 2000

Wood-pewee, warbling vireo, common merganser (aka goosander), great-tailed grackle, black swift and black-throated grey warbler put the list at 158. Living as I was at the top of Page Mill Road, my San Mateo total also used to inch along and began to look a little respectable on 88, especially after a July 8 visit:

“I [...]

A Great Idea

New York state’s plan to kill two-thirds of its Canada geese doesn’t go far enough. I’d like to escalate the concept to kill four billion human beings (that’s fewer than two-thirds, folks). At-a-stroke solution to the Canada goose problem and every other damn problem on [...]

Build a British Bird List

New to, or just recently started birding? Wonder which are the birds you’re most likely to see? The first part of this book lists 250+ species in just that order. Now you have a plan to make a solid start on your British list. The next part lists likely sites for the species towards the [...]

15% Off British Birding Year

Seems like my printers want to promote this.

Here’s their disclaimer: “Use coupon code BEACHREAD305 at checkout and receive 15% off The British Birding Year. Maximum savings with this promotion is $10. You can only use the code once per account, and you can’t use this coupon in combination with other coupon codes. This great offer [...]

Wrens Split: Birds to Go Solo

Paul Stein

In a shock announcement, appropriately on July 4, the species’ manager IOC said that the Troglodytes Family – American twins, Hiemalis and Pacificus, and leader Troglodytes himself – will pursue their own solo careers. Pacificus, at his California forest retreat, cited artistic differences for the rift. Hiemalis is out of reach somewhere on the Eastern Seaboard and, back here in the Midlands, Troglodytes refused to comment.

Repercussions more…

2000: Hooded Oriole, Santa Clara

The missing description for my May 27 Los Altos Hills bird:

“Is this possible? I caught a glimpse of a large (i.e. bigger than a finch) lemon yellow bird with black foreparts flying over my house just now. I immediately thought of an oriole but the only one that fits that description is Scott’s. I notice that hooded may be yellowish but this bird was definitely very yellow. I guess that meadowlark is also a possibility but even with my brief look I’m sure I would have noticed the yellow chin.”

Finally more…

Corn Bunting, Dyrham Park

It’s been a good few weeks for this species: first, one up in East Yorkshire; then near Martin Mere; now, not quite on the National Trust estate but by the road down to Marshfield, which is their local stronghold. Another bunting, a yellowhammer also showed, for only the third time this year – a far cry from my Angus days when they filled the fields round Auchmithie. In fact, they even came to my feeders there.

I was in South Gloucestershire to check for more…

Andy Gibb: Where Only the Birds Sing

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