[EBB Sightings] a visitor

Seeing this mornings digest reminded me that at my goldfinch feeder 
last week, for a period of two days, was a red-breasted nuthatch. He 
would grab a seed, then like a titmouse, go over to a branch and pound 
on it .. Very skittish and somewhat intimidated by the swarming 
goldfinches (Lesser). As I am still pretty new at taking the time to 
identify what I see, it was one for the list.

Also new, for me, were Spotted Towhees. I saw four of them in two 
different places on the Bear Creek Overlook Trail at Briones Reservoir. 
Had a heck of a time seeing them completely for ID as they played 
hide-and-seek in the brush there. Very different than the common 
browns, who are so bold. If you hike there, the first pair was right 
near the parking lot, heading northeast on the trail. The second bunch 
was about 1/4 mile farther along. What was interesting to me was that 
the latter were persistent in staying in a locale. At first, they were 
in front of me, and hopped ahead. Once I had passed a certain point, 
they got behind me. Nest or territorial, I don't know....

That shady part of the trail is heavily populated with the dark-eyed 
juncos. They are everywhere along there and pretty bold, perching on 
tree branches five or six feet away clicking at passers-by. Only other 
species I have seen on three trips thus far along there, are a few jays 
and the towhees. Haven't gone in the morning yet, just mid-day and late 
afternoon.
Watch for snakes and the bee hive, which is at head level in an oak 
tree on south side of trail about 3/4 of a mile in.