[EBB Sightings] huckleberry happenings and return of the fox sparrow

Debbie and all,
This is still not yet a late date for Fox Sparrows in
the Bay Area. I have recorded them on every county
spring big day i have done (usually about April 20th)
and there are usually a few around at late as early
May. It seems to me that when they are found that
late, they are usually in chaparral. Interestingly,
this seems to be the same situation with Hermit Thrush
and Golden-crowned Sparrow. It may well be that those
are migrant birds rather than lingering winter birds,
who knows.
Steve GLover
Dublin

--- debbie viess  wrote:

> I had a long, unequivocal look at a foraging fox
> sparrow this afternoon, along the upper huckleberry
> trail. He was busily excavating a hole with his
> feet,
> and finding, and eating, a number of large fat
> grubs.
> He dug down so deep that the top of his head
> disappeared!
> 
> What I noted through my binocs (the sighting took
> place, unobstructed, over at least five minutes, and
> I
> was the one to finally break away after a number of
> "do you mind??!" looks from the bird)...a yellow
> base
> to his squat sparrow beak. An indistinct gray
> eyebrow,
> blending into a sort of gray mantle, that ran down
> to
> his shoulders. A rufous wash across his back and
> tail
> (I figured that's why they called it a "fox"
> sparrow).
> and of course, a heavily streaked breast.
> 
> It was late in the afternoon, and I figured that he
> was taking advantage of the remaining bit of
> daylight
> to fatten up. Breeder? Late migrant? Right on time?
> I
> dunno, you tell me. I just report 'em as I see 'em.
> 
> Overhead, a Bewicks wren sang on territory. In the
> woods surrounding me, a flock of Stellars jays went
> through most of their vocal repertoire, from "flying
> saucer" noises, to bad red-tail imitations, to
> raucous
> jeers to indescribables. A biggish bird
> (the size of a small male buteo) flew by the
> taunting
> crowd and sank into the brush at the crest of the
> slope, briefly fanning a reddish tail. 
> 
> Late last week, I was treated to a gorget-flashing
> male green-backed Selasphorus hummingbird (at the
> Huck
> entrance), and two California quail, which popped
> up,
> clucking and calling (Chicago! Chicago!), along the
> trail behind me. No turkeys (yay!), but singing
> orange-crowned and Wilson's warblers, and of course,
> the resident wrentits. 
> 
> Ravens,si; eagles, non.
> 
> And don't even ask me about all of the
> wildflowers...
> Doug iris, star flower, woodland stars, solomon's
> seal
> (false and fat), milk maids (still), columbines,
> manroot, fairy bells, blah blah blah.
> 
> It's a great time to be out and about in the woods. 
> Look up, look down, look all around.
> 
> Debbie Viess 
> 
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