White-crowned Sparrows arriving in Livermore
Sat, 21 Sep 2002 08:16:44 -0700
From: Steve Huckabone
Last night at about 7:00 PM I had three adult White-crowned Sparrows arrive at my platform feeder, looking very fit and trim with crowns erect. I know it's not a big deal to many but for us in the Tri Valley it's always a welcome site to see the white-crowns arrive. Good birding.
Steve Huckabone
Alameda County
Livermore, Ca
White-crowned Sparrows back in Oakland too
Sat, 21 Sep 2002 11:46:44 -0700 (PDT)
From: Joy Maxion
Yesterday must have been the day for the return of the White-crowned Sparrows. I had my first 2 white-crowns at our feeders in the morning and again in the afternoon. I live in Oakland, east of Hwy 580 on the San Leandro border.
There must be a hint of fall in the air, even though it has been so hot!
Joy Maxion
Oakland
And a White-crowned Sparrow in Richmond
Sat,
21 Sep 2002 13:42:46 -0700
From: Lisa Viani
I've had a White-crowned Sparrow for the past week (in Richmond). They are the greatest birds.
Lisa Viani
Still waiting for White-crowned Sparrows in Berkeley
Sat, 21 Sep 2002 15:36:07 -0700
From: Rusty Scalf
Hearing my first White-crowned Sparrow in the fall is a very emotional moment for me. It's a sound that takes me back to my childhood when I first started noticing birds. Seems to symbolize the passage of seasons in a way that no other sound does.
In my neighborhood I have yet to hear one this fall.
Rusty Scalf
Blackpoll Warbler in Coyote Hills Regional Park
Sat, 21 Sep 2002 23:03:33 -0700
From: John Luther
Birding Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont this evening at about 6 PM, Susanne Methvin and I found a Blackpoll Warbler in the trees in front of the visitor center. The trees also had many Yellow Warblers, a Pacific-slope Flycatcher, and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. A Lincoln's Sparrow was by the small waterfall by the front door of the visitor center. The marshes had many calling Virginia Rails, at least one Sora, and above them was a mixed flock of swallows including Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow and Tree Swallow.
In the Oakland Hills today, the first Golden-crowned Sparrow of the season showed up at my home. Two Fox Sparrows first put in an appearance two days ago.
John Luther
Oakland
Hidden Lakes Park, Martinez
Sat, 21 Sep 2002
23:46:38 PDT
From: Denise Wight
Hi EB Birders,
At Hidden Lakes Park in Martinez today, there was a Clay-colored Sparrow and a Willow Flycatcher. Yellow Warblers and a Warbling Vireo were also among the migrants seen.
Denise Wight
Martinez, CA
Re: Blackpoll Warbler at Coyote Hills Regional Park
Sun, 22 Sep 2002 15:04:33 -0700
From: Tadd Ottman & Debbie Wong
The Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society outing, led by Frank Vanslager, confirmed the Blackpoll Warbler at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont this morning at 11:45, in oak trees to the right of the visitor center (when facing it). The bird was found by Bob Reiling. It was seen also by three other birders.
In the same area, we saw many Yellow Warblers, one Townsend's Warbler, and one Yellow-rumped Warbler. Among non-warblers, we saw Swainson's Thrush, Willow Flycatcher, and Pacific-slope Flycatcher.
The Audubon group saw 78 species of birds today, including Osprey and American Bittern.
Tadd Ottman
Debbie Wong
Original Message Subject Index
White-crowned Sparrows
Sun, 22 Sep 2002 21:21:46
PDT
From: Brian Fitch
It's interesting to hear of the return of White-crowned Sparrows to the East Bay. While it's true that we never see them up in Tilden Regional Park during the summer, there is a small breeding population at C�sar Ch�:vez Park, north of the Berkeley Marina, in the scrub northwest of the kite-flying area. I've also seen them in summer at Berkeley Aquatic Park. So if you can't wait for fall next year, you can find them there.
Over here in San Francisco, I heard my first fall singing Golden-crowned Sparrow today, which carries for me the same emotional intensity that you all describe for the white-crowns.
Good birding,
Brian Fitch
Re: White-crowned Sparrows
Mon, 23 Sep 2002
18:57:05 -0700
From: Johan Langewis
I also know of a population of White-crowned Sparrows that are resident. I work for EBMUD (East Bay Municipal Utility District) at the wastewater treatment plant near the Bay Bridge toll plaza. We have White-crowned Sparrows (WCSP) that breed there. A few years back (more like 15) we had an invasion of Brown-headed Cowbirds (BHCO). I saw a WCSP feeding a BHCO fledgling on the ground one day. My yard in the Oakland hills is too heavily wooded to attract WCSP, so I only see about one a year.
Johan Langewis
Original Message Subject Index