[EBB Sightings] Mountain Bluebirds, owls, and more

Starting with the rarities first, this morning on Patterson Pass Road, I
found a flock of 13+ MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS foraging along the slope of a
bowl-shaped field on the north side of the road, just to the east of
Patterson Pass. I would estimate the milepost number must have been about
5.3.

Further down the road and looking back, I picked out a FERRUGINOUS HAWK
soaring over the ridge to the north of the road. Just off of Patterson Pass
Road, on Midway Road, I located a large flock of Lark Sparrows.
Unfortunately for county listers, Midway Road is the county line and the
Lark Sparrows were resolutely sticking to the San Joaquin side of the road.
Loggerhead Shrikes are all over the place out there. Probably worth looking
for a Northern Shrike amongst them.

My day actually started much earlier. Taking a cue from Bob Brandriff, I
headed down Redwood Road looking for owls aroung 4:00 am. Just past the
junction with Pinehurst Road, I had Great-Horned, Western Screech, and
Northern Saw-whet Owls all calling at once.

By 6:15 I was at the Santa Clara county line on Mines Road. I got a NORTHERN
PYGMY OWL to respond to my tape but I couldn't be sure it was in Alameda
County so I moved about a mile down the road and got a second one to call,
this time clearly in the county. The other highlight from Mines Road was a
beautiful male PHAINOPEPLA at close range at MP 8.57. California Thrashers
were calling from several locales.

Bird on,

Bruce Mast
Oakland