nosh

People who understand these things thought there might be a lot of migrant movement this morning up on the ridges, so I went very early. I didn't find exceptional migration activity, just not very satisfactory views of three warblers and so many Hermit Thrushes ebird made me explain myself. Still, my list is quite long and I found some interesting birds: two American White Pelicans swimming on the reservoir; an American Kestrel, only here in winter; several Great Horned Owls, one of them a juv making their terrible eeping call; a Say's Phoebe, first since January and that was the only one all last winter; a singing California Thrasher, Fall recrudescence at its finest; a flock of Cedar Waxwings overhead; and a chipping Fox Sparrow. The sighting I had to explain (wish I could carry a camera) was an Olive-sided Flycatcher! They should be long gone, but there they were, making the "pip pip pip" call before dawn. On return, to my surprise I saw them atop a very tall snag, their "vest" clearly visible. ( The list: )

It was getting hot by 9 am (I'm glad I don't live out there!) and I was, for a change, reasonably happy to go home.

It was clear before dawn and stayed cool til I left, an almost perfect morning. A front had come through a few days ago and I was hoping it had brought warblers but it did not to this trail, at least. What it probably did bring were four new arrivals: a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, a Hermit Thrush, and zonos, two White-crowned Sparrows, which I don't often see there, and two flocks of Golden-crowned Sparrows. We weren't expecting the sparrows for several more weeks. Interestingly, just after I texted U and Chris about the zonos I saw U's email that she'd had a Golden-crown on her suet that morning. I guess they are really here. ( The list: )

Also fun were several coveys of California Quail; last visit I neither heard nor saw any at all. The first flock was just down slope from the crest, so I stayed there quite a while as the sun rose and the Quail foraged quietly. As often there was a small cottontail with them.

Today was the third of three clear, hot days this week, good weather for getting out there and back early. I was at the top of the rise by dawn and by the time I was there again two and a half hours later it was warmer than I like. Two warblers, a Townsend's and a Yellow, were the only incoming migrants. Migrants I thought had left were Western Wood-pewee, Western Flycatcher, Swainson's Thrush, and two Black-headed Grosbeaks who seemed to be heading west. The Western Tanager I think was just passing through. I was surprised to see a single American White Pelican on San Pablo Reservoir; I think they're around all year now. ( The list: )

There's a chance of rain tomorrow night. I'll believe it when I hear it!

There was fog but it wasn't blowing so very hard so I put on a windbreaker and started down the trail ten or fifteen minutes after the initially invisible sunrise. But soon the fog thinned enough for me to see where the sun was, so that was a good start. It as quiet on the way out to the north end of the trail, and out there it was very quiet. I didn't find a single new species there, bar the probable thus unreportable Blue-gray Gnatcatchers at the point on return. No vocalizations but one or more small, blueish birds flitting about with Chestnut-backed Chickadees and Lesser Goldfinches. The sun made it's best attempt at 8:30 or so when I was approaching the very tall pines just north of the dip. Suddenly I was in the middle of great activity, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Bushtits, all three nuthatches, Bewick's Wrens, Purple Finches, Lesser Goldfinches, Dark-eyed Juncos, a pair of California Towhees, a Wilson's Warbler, and a flock of Townsend's Warblers. I reported six but I'm pretty sure there were more. I think they only flock when they are on migration, which they almost certainly were. It was wonderful, what we always hope for. Unfortunately I was at the end of my stamina and couldn't stay watching as long as I would have liked, but it did make the fog worthwhile. ( The list: )

I expected to run into game day detours and had learned a new alternate route home, but it's an evening game and nothing was blocked yet.:) Game days are such pain, especially since Cal Stadium is right at the beginning of the road I take up to the western ridge.