[EBB Sightings] Singing Phainopepla near Mitchell Canyon

Hi E.B. Birders,

At the top of White Canyon near Mitchell Canyon this
afternoon, there was a male Phainopepla.   I actually
heard the bird singing before I saw it (a first for me
with this species).  The two song phrases I heard
sounded like "pretty bird", followed by a descending,
harmonic trill.  Quite lovely.   After I saw the bird,
it finally gave the typical "wurt" call.  

Listen and look for it in the oaks along and to the
north of Red Road, right before the great view west
over the Diablo Valley.

This exact location had a number of both male and
female Phainopepla on July1 last year.

All the Best Birding,
Denise Wight
Moraga, CA