[EBB Sightings] (Ongoing) Gray Flycatcher: Knowland State Arboretum and Park, Oakland, CA, Alameda Co.

Knowland State Arboretum and Park, Oakland, CA, Alameda Co. 1/5/10

*

Wandering about for 20 minutes or so within a park in which I had never been, I was
(rewarded for my aimlessness and) delighted to see the 
ongoing GRAY FLYCATCHER pop into view within 50' of my binocular-less eyes this afternoon at 4:10 pm

For the next 20 minutes, I felt like I was in a zoo-like aviary -- so close and so docile 
was my willing, cooperative Tyranid subject.

Talk about a bird that must have graduated from Obedience School.

This Gray Flycatcher passes the test.

The characteristic "down" flicking of the tail, prominent eye ring, and other features diagnostic to this species are all present on the bird I saw.

Thanks for many for their help, and, especially, Mike F.

Directions:

Get off from I-580 going north at FOOTHILL. Do NOT get off at Golf Links like I wrongly did on 1/4/10.

After getting off on Foothill, follow the signs for it, then go onto Malcolm Ave. as you climb steeply for a good spell of time.

Eventually, after you give up hope that you're on the correct pathway, a street named Ettrick St. appears. Turn left and park immediately at the cul de sac.

>From this point, the bird is "11 o'clock" or nearly straight ahead 1/8th of a mile on the dirt/mud-packed trail.

My viewing was of the bird in a small 30' pine tree on the right side of the trail, eye level.

Regards and happy birding,


Daniel Edelstein

Novato, CA (Bay Area)

&


Ellison Bay, WI

http://www.warblerwatch.com 

My two blogs:

http://warblerwatch.blogspot.com 
(my blog devoted to wood-warblers)

http://danielsmerrittclasses.blogspot.com 
(my blog focused on classes I teach at 
Merritt College in Oakland, CA, including my next
one -- "Bird Song Ecology/Birding By Ear" that begins in 4/10)

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