[EBB Sightings] Mitchell Canyon - Possible Veery, 4/30/05

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Today, while leading my Palo Alto Baylands birding class on a fieldtrip 
at Mitchell Canyon, Mt. Diablo State Park, Contra Costa County, I saw a 
Catharus thrush that didn't fall into the Swainson's or Hermit box. It 
was evenly reddish brown throughout the upperparts, lacking the Hermit 
Thrush-type contrast between reddish uppertail coverts/base and the 
brownish back and wings. It did not have a noticeable eyering. And the 
breast had a buffy wash with no distinct spotting. I was not able to 
get a photo of the bird. While I have never seen this species before, 
my impression was that it was brighter rufous (more like eastern form 
than western).

It was seen about 100 yds. beyond the #2 nature trail marker in a grove 
of oaks through which the trails cuts, approx. 0.25 mi. from the 
parking lot. The creek courses close to the trail at this point. There 
is a large oak with a trunk that splits into 4-5 smaller trunks on the 
creek side of the trail. One large branch arcs low over the ground 
toward the creek. The bird was seen in this area and in the creek. 
Observation was around 12:30p and only lasted about a minute. I got a 
15 second look at its back when I approached the creek.

Other notable birds seen were up to 4 Bell's SAGE SPARROWS up the 
second canyon to the right, several RUFOUS/ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS, and a 
light-morph SWAINSON'S HAWK, seen later, along Camino Diablo west of 
Vargas Rd. We also saw a flock of about 150 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS near 
cattle at the Y intersection of Marsh Creek Rd. and Camino Diablo.


Les
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Les Chibana
BirdNUTZ(tm) - Ornigasmic Birding
Palo Alto Baylands Birding Classes
em 
web 
ph 650-949-4335
fx 650-949-4137
snailmail: SR2 Box 335, La Honda CA 94020
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Today, while leading my Palo Alto Baylands birding class on a
fieldtrip at Mitchell Canyon, Mt. Diablo State Park, Contra Costa
County, I saw a Catharus thrush that didn't fall into the Swainson's
or Hermit box. It was evenly reddish brown throughout the upperparts,
lacking the Hermit Thrush-type contrast between reddish uppertail
coverts/base and the brownish back and wings. It did not have a
noticeable eyering. And the breast had a buffy wash with no distinct
spotting. I was not able to get a photo of the bird. While I have
never seen this species before, my impression was that it was brighter
rufous (more like eastern form than western). 


It was seen about 100 yds. beyond the #2 nature trail marker in a
grove of oaks through which the trails cuts, approx. 0.25 mi. from the
parking lot. The creek courses close to the trail at this point. There
is a large oak with a trunk that splits into 4-5 smaller trunks on the
creek side of the trail. One large branch arcs low over the ground
toward the creek. The bird was seen in this area and in the creek.
Observation was around 12:30p and only lasted about a minute. I got a
15 second look at its back when I approached the creek.  


Other notable birds seen were up to 4 Bell's SAGE SPARROWS up the
second canyon to the right, several RUFOUS/ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS, and a
light-morph SWAINSON'S HAWK, seen later, along Camino Diablo west of
Vargas Rd. We also saw a flock of about 150 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS near
cattle at the Y intersection of Marsh Creek Rd. and Camino Diablo. 




---

Les Chibana

BirdNUTZ(tm) - Ornigasmic Birding

Palo Alto Baylands Birding Classes

em <

web <

ph 650-949-4335

fx 650-949-4137

snailmail: SR2 Box 335, La Honda CA 94020
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