[EBB Sightings] huckleberry happenings and return of the fox sparrow

I had a long, unequivocal look at a foraging fox
sparrow this afternoon, along the upper huckleberry
trail. He was busily excavating a hole with his feet,
and finding, and eating, a number of large fat grubs.
He dug down so deep that the top of his head
disappeared!

What I noted through my binocs (the sighting took
place, unobstructed, over at least five minutes, and I
was the one to finally break away after a number of
"do you mind??!" looks from the bird)...a yellow base
to his squat sparrow beak. An indistinct gray eyebrow,
blending into a sort of gray mantle, that ran down to
his shoulders. A rufous wash across his back and tail
(I figured that's why they called it a "fox" sparrow).
and of course, a heavily streaked breast.

It was late in the afternoon, and I figured that he
was taking advantage of the remaining bit of daylight
to fatten up. Breeder? Late migrant? Right on time? I
dunno, you tell me. I just report 'em as I see 'em.

Overhead, a Bewicks wren sang on territory. In the
woods surrounding me, a flock of Stellars jays went
through most of their vocal repertoire, from "flying
saucer" noises, to bad red-tail imitations, to raucous
jeers to indescribables. A biggish bird
(the size of a small male buteo) flew by the taunting
crowd and sank into the brush at the crest of the
slope, briefly fanning a reddish tail. 

Late last week, I was treated to a gorget-flashing
male green-backed Selasphorus hummingbird (at the Huck
entrance), and two California quail, which popped up,
clucking and calling (Chicago! Chicago!), along the
trail behind me. No turkeys (yay!), but singing
orange-crowned and Wilson's warblers, and of course,
the resident wrentits. 

Ravens,si; eagles, non.

And don't even ask me about all of the wildflowers...
Doug iris, star flower, woodland stars, solomon's seal
(false and fat), milk maids (still), columbines,
manroot, fairy bells, blah blah blah.

It's a great time to be out and about in the woods. 
Look up, look down, look all around.

Debbie Viess