[EBB Sightings] Golden-crowned sparrows

[EBB Sightings] Golden-crowned sparrows

Lance Beeson
Thu Apr 21 12:37:00 PDT 2005
  • Previous Message: [EBB Sightings] Harris' Sparrow at Sunol
  • Next Message: [EBB Sightings] Pacific Slope Flycatcher

    « Back to Month
    « Back to Archive List


    
    I was struck by the diversity of habitat of this bird yesterday on two 
    separate viewings.
    
    At mid-day, I checked up on what seems to be an ongoing habitat in a 
    stretch of rosemary and other shrubbery on Ptarmigan Drive in the very 
    settled Rossmoor neighborhood. Its a warm, protected spot. A month or 
    two ago, I watched them picking away at the purplish flowers of the 
    rosemary plants there.
    
    Then last evening, I was atop the last northern hill of the San Pablo 
    Ridge, near the  satellite-cable TV installation and EBMUD's Pearl 
    Reservoir (water tank). Way the heck up there, where the wind blows 
    24/365, a small group of these birds were clinging to a chaparral type 
    of bush (we call it greasewood but I don't know its real name), 
    apparently picking at buds or something. They were pretty bold about my 
    presence, only flying over to the next bush as I neared them for a 
    closer look. I wondered if they nest up there. A very adaptable bird, 
    like other sparrows, I guess.
    
    
    


    « Back to Month
    « Back to Archive List