[EBB Sightings] Mitchell and White Canyon - 28 Mar 2009

Hi E.B. Birders,

Nothing rare to report, but here are some returning breeding species that I recorded today at Mitchell Canyon and White Canyon on Mount Diablo:

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (I recorded some mimicry from this bird at close range that sounded like the "burrr" part of the "whit-burrr" call of a Swainson's Thrush)

Black-throated Gray Warbler 

Grasshopper Sparrow (on the grassy hillside just over the ridge at the top of White Canyon)

Other songs I recorded included that of California Thrashers, Orange-crowned Warblers, Pacific Slope Flycatchers, Warbling Vireo and Bullock's Oriole.  Hermit Thrush whisper song was so soft, it was difficult to pick up, even when the bird was within ten feet.

In many spots, the loud, constant "songs" of Hutton's Vireos made it difficult to get good recordings of other species.

It was a nice day to be out, and it was fun to be inundated with Painted Ladies flying north along the ridge at the top of White Canyon.

All the Best Birding,
Denise Wight
Moraga,CA