[EBB Sightings] RE: SAGE THRASHER

Greetings EBB'ers,
 
While previewing tomorrow's 1/2 day SFBBO Calif. Fall Callenge Bird-A-Thon  I 
found a SAGE THRASHER (SaTh) at the Don Edwards S.F.Bay NWR.  This  location 
is in Fremont, ALA Co. along Marsh Rd. a few dozen yards before it  joins the 
old Dumbarton Bridge fishing access road.  The bird flew near  where I was 
"pishing" and "shhhipping" to get a better look at a couple of  Hermit Thrushes 
foraging on ripe Toyon berries.  This was down slope from  the last parking 
spot ON THE RIGHT (North) SIDE, and opposite to where most  Refuge visitors park. 
 It soon flew out of site from a snaggy Coyote  Bush, but was located again 
atop bushtops, flying and perching conspicuously  before flying into a 
dense-leaved, young black acacia, quite near the Toyon. The  breast and belly were 
more darkly spotted (or short dashed) than streaked, as is  often illustrated. 
The pale yellowish iris was conspicuous, and in one flight I  could see the tell 
tale white tail tip corners. The short, slightly down curved  bill looked 
straight when viewed straight on. With such a close-to-Mockingbird  (juvenile) 
appearance, one wonders how many have "gotten away.  The day  became a two 
thrasher day when a California Thrasher sang out atop a  leafless poison oak shrub 
at the Staging Area for Pleasanton  Ridge Trail along Foothill Rd. near 
Castlewood Country Club (ca. 2 mi.  south).
 
Happy Birding,
 
Support San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory < _www.sfbbo.org_ 
(http://www.sfbbo.org)  >
 
Phil E. Gordon
Hayward, ALA Co.
_PAGPEG at aol.com_ (mailto:PAGPEG at aol.com) 



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