March 13 2010 - Coyote Creek Trail Nesting Activity

Lots to report from the trail today. We walked from the Morgan hill parking lot to the airfield and back. In the meadow just past the footbridge over Coyote Creek, tree sparrows were flying in and out of the nest boxes there, so they appear to be taking up residence now.

Past the point where 101 crosses over the trail, at the "first" redtail hawk nest from last year (easily seen right now with little foliage, on the left but across the trail from the very obvious first sycamores on the right) we still saw no hawk activity.

We also saw no hawk on the next nest from last year, close to the airfield. However, there was a redtail hawk near the nest on a nearby tree. When I raised my lens to shoot this redtail, it responded in a way that was very new to us. Rather than flying away, this bird was almost chasing us away - circling near us and vocalizing. (bird in top photo) We have certainly seen this behavior from other birds, particularly the stilts, but never from a hawk, and we were so far away from the nest. But the behavior was unmistakably protective. I was nearly certain that when we came back we would see a hawk on the nest, and indeed we did (second photo).

There were three kestrels on the sycamore opposite the airfield parking lot.

On our return, on the other side of the creek and just past the "first" redtail nest, I spotted a smallish red shouldered hawk with a pale head. I have taken photos of this bird before in this area. When I went to shoot this bird, it screamed pretty loudly and flew up to a nest that we have not seen before. (fourth picture above) A second red shouldered hawk flew and vocalized around this nest for a while before perching nearby. This really seems to be a new nest because it is in a fairly visible area and we have not seen it before. We have seen a lot of red shouldered activity in this area the last few weeks and have seen as many as four red shouldered hawks circling together. The nest is about midway between the 101 crossover and the "first" redtail nest from last year. It is large but fairly flat, and easily visible across the creek by the orchard.

When we reached the Oak rest area we left the main path and walked on the path by the creek. About half way between the rest area and the bridge over the creek where this path ends, we heard a loud red shouldered hawk shriek and turned around to see yet another red shouldered hawk nest with a head peeking over the top. This hawk continued to vocalize while I captured a few photos.(see the third photo above) The photo does not make it clear that the nest is occupied but we were able to see the bird, and it was very audible. We have seen and heard so many red shouldered hawks in this area this winter that I believe it is likely that there is at least one more nest in this vicinity - we will keep looking for this.