[EBB Sightings] Lake Del Valle RP - Eastern Phoebe

I birded Lake Del Valle RP this afternoon for 3 hours and found the usual
suspects. However I decided to drive over to the boat launch area to scope
the birds along the shoreline. While I was scoping the birds on the shore I
heard a strange bird call from behind me, I turned and saw a Phoebe like
bird fly-catching from a bare tree. I put my bins on the bird and instantly
recognized a Eastern Phoebe. I swung my scope around and found the bird
however, after about 15 seconds a Merlin broke up the party, I last saw the
Phoebe flying south. I attempted to relocate the bird but darkness was
falling. 

The bird was first found at about 4:00PM from the boat launch parking area
near the exit of the parking levels. The bird was perched on a fallen tree
on the right side of the road as you head toward the boat launch. 

When I returned home I checked Art Edward's information and found that
Eastern Phoebe has been seen in the area before and it was in Dec & Jan.
Hopefully the bird is wintering at the lake and if it's like other wintering
Eastern Phoebe's it will stick around for awhile. I will be back in the
morning attempting to relocate.

Good birding and Happy Holidays.

Steve Huckabone
Alameda County
Livermore California
USA