[EBB Sightings] White-throated Sparrow at Valle Vista - tan-morph indiviual this time

Hi E.B. Birders

For the Albany Adult School Birding by Ear class, fourteen students joined me at Valle Vista Staging Area/ Upper San Leandro Reservoir this morning (Saturday). Heavy rain at the beginning made it so I had to officially call off the class, but said I would continue birding in the rain for those who were interested.? All but one person stayed with me.? We actually got in some good birding between heavy showers.

The highlight of the morning was seeing a tan-striped White-throated Sparrow in the exact same location I had seen the white-striped White-throated Sparrow last Sunday (southwest end of the main bridge). Beside the strip color difference, last week's WTSP had bright yellow lores, unlike the bird we saw today, which did not.

We also saw and heard at least five female Wood Ducks in flight, and scoped about ten additional males and females on the water.? Two Varied Thrush were seen well in bare trees by the bridge, giving numerous song notes and trills.? Five California Thrashers were singing, three of which were seen.? 

We ended the trip with forty-four species in a heavy down pour.

All the Best Birding,
Denise Wight
Moraga, CA