[EBB Sightings] Miller-Knox: Cackling, Brant, White-throated

A morning walk (Sun., Nov 4) at Miller-Knox Regional Shoreline was 
productive.  The CACKLING GOOSE continues to hang out with the Canada 
Geese on the lawn near the lagoon.  The BRANT continues in the same 
area, but was in the lagoon.

A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was found in the mixed flock (Golden-crowned 
and White-crowned Sparrows, Calif. Towhees, juncos) just south of the 
first parking lot.

Best of the rest:  In the vicinity of the Ramblers building across 
the street from the lagoon, we had Red-breasted Nuthatch, 
Red-breasted Sapsucker, 2 Lincoln's Sparrows, and a juvenile 
Sharp-shinned Hawk.  In the lagoon area we saw a Townsend's Warbler, 
White-tailed Kite, Hermit Thrush, and Nuttall's Woodpeckers.  Best 
birds bayside were 2 Spotted Sandpipers, a Pelagic Cormorant, and our 
first-of-season Horned Grebe.

2 Red-breasted Mergansers on the lagoon gave us our 3rd red-breasted 
species of the morning.  Oddest thing was the lack of American 
Wigeons (we only saw one), usually a staple at this park.

Footnote:  The White-throated Sparrow which I first reported out our 
back window here in Pinole on Oct. 25 finally decided a few days 
later that our backyard was a cool place to hang out in the afternoon 
and has been seen almost daily since.  Due to the amount of streaking 
on its breast, I have decided that it is a first-winter bird.

Good birding,
--
Laura Look
Pinole, CA