[EBB Sightings] Heather Farm Walnut Creek

Took a later bike ride this morning, as the birds don't quite understand 
changing clocks.  So when I returned home from church, I left the house 
about 9:30 instead of my usual 8-8:30.

There were many Cedar Waxwings in the trees at the north entrance from the 
Canal Trail to Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek.  Being the weekend, I only 
saw one Black-crowned Night-Heron around the large, mostly natural pond. 
They seem to know when to skeedaddle.
I tossed a little seed at the south end of the equestrian area and had about 
20 White-crowned Sparrows and the single White-throated Sparrow come out.  I 
think they must be related to the Mallards; they either recognize the bike 
or they know the sound of the plastic bag.  The sparrows were joined by the 
pair of Scrub Jays who always make them nervous.

At the north end of the equestrian area, I threw a little seed near the 
metal hitching post.  At first nothing happened, then a mixed flock of 15-20 
White- and Golden-crowned Sparrows responded.  A different pair of jays make 
this flock nervous.  An Oak Titmouse pair join the sparrows in this 
location.  I didn't see them today, but sometimes a pair of California 
Towhees also joins in for breakfast.  I have not seen the single Fox Sparrow 
here for a long time.

I will ride my road-bike to Alamo to visit Jean Richmond today.  She has 
feeders in her backyard and has many of the usual suspects coming to 
entertain her.

Guess none of our avian friends will be going to Piedmont Lumber Company in 
Walnut Creek this year, it pretty much burned to the ground last night. 
Let's hope they don't need to re-model the insides of the many bird houses 
which are now on the market in the many backyards of our East Bay Birders.

Hugh B. Harvey
Walnut Creek