[EBB Sightings] Harris's Sparrow, Richmond Bay Trail

Late yesterday afteroon, Sunday, Nov. 16, I was watching a flock of White Crowned Sparrows foraging in the vegetation on the East side of the Bay Trail a few yards north of the bridge that crosses the creek paralelling the Pt Isabel Dog Park, when I spotted an unusual sparrow which turned out to be a lst winter Harris's.  At first I thought it was a hybrid given its unusual markings, but when I got home and looked in Sibley, the fieldmarks were exactly as in the book, especially the wonderful uneven necklace of brown spots, the white belly, and head shape and color.

The bridge is on the Bay Trail right at the dog park, accessed from the parking lot at the end of Rydin Road which is off Central Avenue, El Cerrito.

Earlier on the walk, I and a couple of other birders, saw a Clapper Rail foraging at Meeker Sough bridge on the Richmond Bay Trail near Marina Bay Parkway.  

As I don't have a computer at home any questions can be directed to 510/215-1864.

Good birding,
Sheila Dickie