[EBB Sightings] Union City & Garin Park

I started yesterday morning at Garin Park, looking for Joe's White-throated
Sparrow. I ran into Bob Dunne and we worked the Arroyo Flats picnic area
together. We eventually found the Golden-crowned Sparrow flock on the
opposite side of the creek from the picnic area. The flock included 2
WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, a bright white-striped adult and what is probably a
1st winter bird, based on the dull bib color.

There's a place to ford the creek just to the right of the cattle gate
(horse hoof prints going down the slope make it obvious). The sparrows had
taken shelter in the willow thicket and were hopping out to forage on the
trail and adjacent slope that parallels the creek.

Bruce Mast
Oakland

-----Original Message-----
From: sightings-bounces at diabloaudubon.com
[mailto:sightings-bounces at diabloaudubon.com] On Behalf Of JoeDevine
Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 7:54 PM
To: sightings at diabloaudubon.com
Subject: [EBB Sightings] Union City & Garin Park

I birded the grounds of Mission Nursery/Vallejo Adobe
Mission on Alvarado Niles Rd. at Nursery Ave. before
noon this morning. A male HAIRY WOODPECKER was working
a woodpile behind a residence/office on the east side
of the nursery. In the nursery nearby was a WINTER
WREN. Also found on the grounds (nursery & woods
around the mission) were a male Townsend's Warbler,
several Hermit Thrush, Red-breasted Nutchatches, & a
calling Cooper's Hawk, among others.
Later, at Garin Park, I made a quick walk up to the
Arroyo Flats picnic area (east trail above the creek).
At the picnic area was a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW with a
small flock of other Zonotrichia sparrows & an unknown
sparrow that I couldn't identify (no pics). At first I
thought it might be another WTSP, tan-striped form.
What caught my eye was the very orange/rufous tones to
the wings & head stripes. But, there was no hint of a
white throat. I think there might have been streaks on
the flanks & sides, but I'm not sure. From this quick
look all I could find in Sibley's was the Eastern form
of the Song Sparrow. But, it seemed too large & didn't
seem to have strong gray tones on the face. I'll try
sometime next week to find it again, if no one else
does in the meantime.
Also present at the picnic area was a Downey WP, with
the usual Titmice, Yellow-rumped's & others.

Joe Devine
Modesto, Ca
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