[EBB Sightings] First Friday at Jewel Lake

Dear Birders:

Fifteen of us had a delightful morning at Jewel Lake as part of the
regularly-scheduled, first-Friday-of-the month GGAS field trip.  We
began our walk to the cheerful chorus of robin song.  At the beginning
of the Pack Rat Trail we watched a male Downy Woodpecker customizing
the entrance to a nest hole in a small tree to right of the trail. 
Below his chiseling, a cone of sawdust was collecting where the tree
forks. 

Wilson's Warblers and Pacific-slope Flycatchers were the dominate
singers along the wooded trail.  From the willows below, newly-arrived
Black-headed Grosbeaks were singing. Alan Kaplan pointed out that in
the park Grosbeaks arrive when the box elder trees bloom. And for those
confused by the robin and grosbeak songs, he says: "You can march to a
singing robin (with its even phrasing), but not to the Black-headed
Grosbeak's song" 

Last month's dominate singer, the Orange-crowned Warbler, now has
receded into the background. Absent on this morning were Warbling
Vireos and Swainson's Thrushes who are usually the last to arrive.  The
wintering water birds have departed leaving the lake to the resident
Mallards and pond turtles.  

In an alder at lakeside, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, soon to depart, belted
 out his big song, and a kingfisher clattered by.  Overhead we saw a
pale Cooper's Hawk and a molting Turkey Vulture showing a big gap in
its primary feathers.

A regularly walk to Jewel Lake is a wonderful way to experience the
changing seasons where a variety of riparian bird life and deciduous
vegetation makes each month a distinctive experience.  Next month, on
the first Friday, the bushes and trees will be fully leafed out and all
the choristers, including the Swaison's Thrush, should be in full
voice.

Altogether we heard or saw 30 species.

Phila Rogers



      ____________________________________________________________________________________
You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost.  
http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.com