[EBB Sightings] birding between the raindrops

Our brief window of sunshine yesterday, and a recent
post on this list about the Huckleberry thrushes had
me heading for the East Bay hills. Although the trail
was muddy, the air was freshly washed and the
moss-clad trees were bright and dripping. A new crop
of mushrooms ornamented the ground and miniature
mushrooms dotted the trees, and the ericaceous shrubs
were laden with their urnlike flowers.

A brief stop at the Mt.Diablo overlook brought me a
large flock of 30 plus band-tailed pigeons, winging
determinedly overhead. Goodly numbers of ravens were
ruling the roost over Round Top way; there was nary a
raptor to be seen. Chestnut-backed chickadees animated
the trees and shrubs, and hummers buzzed overhead. The
soft chooks of Varied Thrushes told me of their
presence, and several flushed up as I passed. This is
the first year that I have noticed the distinctive
markings at the edges of their tails as they
fly...probably a signal to their brethren as they move
through the dark and shadowy woods. After all,
excepting this year, they are usually HARD to see! 

A flock of Stellar's jays scolded somebody below me in
the canyon, whether two-legged or taloned I couldn't
tell. At the first overlook I heard the high, harsh
tones of a hawk, but again never saw the bird. Rain
always makes the raptors so irritable; glad that I'm
not considered prey.

Along the lower trail a Varied Thrush flew up and
perched close-by. It felt like a gift, so I didn't
raise my binocs, and we shared the moment as equals. I
left him with thanks, and he never flushed, even as I
moved away. 

A fat red squirrel ran ahead of me, then stopped close
by and munched an acorn. I watched it eat, and
remembered how I used to feed them when I was little.
For once, it didn't flee my presence, and I could
observe its fluffy yet scraggly tail, edged with
black, and the dark guard hairs over its back. Once it
had finished its meal, it scampered to another close
location and began grooming. This also felt like a
gift, although perhaps it was a squirrel used to or
even fed by humans before. Not typical behavior for my
usual squirrel encounters here, though. As I was
transfixed by my furry friend, another birder came up
the trail. Understandably, she thought that I was
glassing a bird, and was not terribly interested in my
squirrel sighting. Turned out she was on the hunt for
Varied Thrush. I wished her well, and assured her that
they were about.

As the rain began to patter and then fell in earnest,
I headed up and out of the canyon. My birder friend
passed me, and claimed to have seen a couple of
thrushes before she had to turn back. Another quality
Huckleberry experience for everyone.

Debbie Viess