[EBB Sightings] (no subject)

If you like to get "up close and personal" with normally distant birds, 
try the dam at Briones Overlook (with your official okey-dokey Trail 
Permit, that is).

The bridge that goes over the spillway has a large number of nesting 
Cliff Swallows that continually fly in and out right beneath your feet. 
It's kind of exhilarating.

Last Saturday afternoon, my son and I went there and I got within TWO 
feet of a Tree Swallow, who was clinging to a nesting box which is 
mounted to a utility pole right on the road that crosses the dam. For 
once I didn't need the binoculars at all and made a positive ID. I am 
not sure if he was actually using the box but sure was clinging on to 
it.

I also saw what I believe is a Purple Martin on a wire overhead. I 
definitely saw an American Goldfinch couple as well as the usual ducks 
in the water there. Lotsa bluebirds too, of course.

I also saw what APPEARED to be a Cassin's Finch, because he had the 
slight crest, the defined back of head red ending, but I couldn't see 
his culmen long enough to be sure he wasn't a purple (I watch Purples 
and Houses all day here at work out  my window). He also seemed 
stouter. Gun-shy about this ID, though.

They just mowed the trails there. My son, who is always looking for 
snakes, found a nest of eggs underneath a cut-up piece of utility pole 
(this was downhill from the parking area). The nest was perfectly round 
and made of pine needles. There were 12 eggs, white with brown speckles 
and a kind of stained look. I am guessing quail? I think the mowing may 
have caused the parents to abandon the nest as the just-mowed grass was 
a foot and a half away. Eggs were cold and there was no worried bird 
lurking about. We did see a few quail farther down the path though.

Anyway, the dam is a funny spot, because even though there is a bit of 
sterility to it, it is a nexus of bird activity. We even found a 
crawdad leg and parts of another unfortunate bird strewn about from a 
raptor's meal, perhaps.