[EBB Sightings] Clay-colored Sparrow, Alameda

I had what I am pretty sure was a Clay-colored Sparrow this morning 
(~7:35) in Alameda.  It was in fennel along the south side of Shoreline 
Drive adjacent to Elsie Romer Bird Sanctuary, between the intersection 
of Shoreline & Broadway and the viewing platform (the platform along 
Shoreline, not the one further east that is accessed by a trail parallel 
to Bayview).  After a short while, it hopped over the fence into the 
heavier brush in the Sanctuary, and I couldn't relocate it.  But it 
didn't look like it went very far.

The bird was very pale and lightly marked, but I think the pale lores 
and whitish median crown stripe, white and pale buff underparts (as 
opposed to gray), and lack of white eye-ring together eliminate Chipping 
and Brewer's.  I'll post some photos later.

The world's most frequently reported Pectoral Sandpipers continue at 
Coyote Hills in the previously described area.  Four birds flushed just 
as I arrived ~11:00; two later returned and provided close views and 
many photo ops.

The butterfly garden at mid-day offered a slow but steady trickle of 
migrants and winter arrivals:

Hermit Thrush
Yellow Warbler - 2
Wilson's Warbler - 2
Western Tanager
Golden-crowned Sparrow - 2
White-crowned Sparrow - several
Black-headed Grosbeak

Glen Tepke
Oakland
g.tepke (at) comcast (dot) net
www.pbase.com/gtepke