[EBB Sightings] Willow Flycatchers continue at Del Valle Regional Park

Birders:

The birds that Willow-finder Kathy reported on Sunday continued this  
morning in the same area where she and others found them:  along the  
east side of Lake Del Valle's inlet channel, in the shrub-height  
vegetation that extends from the bridge over the inlet northward a  
couple of hundred yards, to where it transitions into tree-height  
vegetation.

Stephanie Floyd arrived at about 9:40 am, as I did, and from the  
walkway on the north side of the bridge we soon heard one bird "fitz- 
bew"-ing away beneath us.  Seeking to get a look at it, we walked  
down to near water level, trying both sides of the vegetation patch.   
Soon we heard a second bird, which doubled our angst.  The birds  
continued to move about, singing fairly frequently until 10:45 am, by  
which time we had finally gotten a good look at one of them.

They foraged and called from perches well below the tops of the  
vegetation, unlike the behavior I've experienced on their breeding  
grounds.  As others reported, at least one of the birds once flew  
into a large sycamore.

Wonder where they're heading, and when they will leave.

Glad it wasn't last night.

Dave Quady
Berkeley, California
davequady at att.net