[EBB Sightings] Red Letter Day!

Dear Birders:

The first Golden-crowned Sparrow arrived Saturday at my deck, unannounced 
and without the usual fanfare.  It appeared to be a young male with a fading 
yellow head stripe.

For the last 30 years beginning on September 15, I've walked out to the end 
of my street where it opens out onto the University property just northwest 
of LHS.  On these early morning walks I stop often to listen and whistle.   
Sometime over the next ten days, I've been rewarded by a note or two of the 
sweet-sad song which announces to me that all's well with the world and that 
another fall has 'officially' arrived.  I celebrate by a sending up a joyful 
cheer.  Usually it takes several days after those first calls for the 
Golden-crowns to come to the feeder.  Once they arrive, they are regular 
customers until early April.

But this year this brown sparrow simply appeared and began feeding with the 
juncos.

Looking back over my records, this solitary arrival ties with two years ago 
for the earliest date.  One year, they didn't show up until late in the 
month, causing enough anxiety among birders that letters  began showing up 
in The SF Chronicle Op-Ed page.

Can the first rain be far behind?

Phila Rogers