April 1998 Field Journal 4.2 [SFBirds]
Just sort of strolling around this morning, I managed to refind the
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW near the gardener's brush pile behind Bercut. On the
way out near Middle Drive, there was a calling/singing SPOTTED TOWHEE.4.4 [SFBirds] 4.4.98 SF Birds
We had quite a little crowd at the Cliff House this morning, including
Jennifer, David Nelson, Luke, Hugh and myself. While there was nothing of particular
note, BONAPARTE'S GULLS continue to move through as well as a few CASPIAN
TERNS. Jennifer found a small flock of PIGEON GUILLEMOTS near Land's End
and there was a COMMON MURRE out amongst the RED-THROATED LOONS.>From there, we caravaned to McClaren Park. PURPLE FINCHES were easy to
find as were WILSON'S WARBLERS. There were several NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS
flying over the pond near the picnic area and Hugh found a PACIFIC SLOPE
FLYCATCHER in the willows. Jennifer found an AMERICAN GOLDFINCH for me.Luke had to leave for another commitment, but the rest of us caravaned to
the end of Yosemite Ave. The tide was quite low and there were large (for SF)
numbers of shorebirds at the end of the mud flats. We then moved over a bit
and parked at the corner of Carrol and Fitch. From there, we went out to the
storm drain outflow and found large numbers of SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS and WESTERN
SANDPIPERS with a few LEAST SANDPIPERS and DUNLIN sprinkled in. In an
effort to find at least one LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER or RED KNOT, we bushwhacked through
the brush to the side of the channel which leads to the end of Yosemite Ave.,
but did not find even a good candidate for either.All in all, it was a pretty effective day for just a morning of activity.
4.27 [SFBirds] Pacific-slope Flycatcher vocalizations
(No, this is not a redux of the Pacific-slope Flycatcher/Cordilleran Flycatcher vocalization debate).This morning I found a nice pair of Pacific-slope Flycatcher in the willows on the bridge below the caretaker's house and above the small duck pond in McClaren Park. In good light, the elongated eye ring and entirely bright yellow lower mandible were easily visible, though neither were singing. However, as I flushed them by pishing, I happened to notice that one of them (the male?) vocalized (only once), presumably the alarm call. Most disturbingly, it was two quick phrases which (to my ear) were indistinguishable from the first two phrases of a Dusky Flycatcher, described in NGS as a clear sillit followed immediately by a lower tsurrp. However, there was no pause between the phrases; they were much closer together than they would have been for a Dusky Flycatcher song.
My question is whether anyone is familiar with this particular vocalization or whether I should be concerned about this kind of vocalization from birds which appeared to me to be obvious Pacific-slope Flycatcher specimens.
Also, these two might be candidates for breeding.
4.27 [SFBirds] Sage Sparrow at Mt. Davidson
This evening at about 6:45, I managed to refined David's SAGE SPARROW at
Mount Davidson. I flushed it (damn near stepped on it!) from the brambles
(elderberry?) adjacent to the trail in the ravine just below the solitary
eucalyptus at the northeastern edge of the summit plateau. It then flew
just across the creek/drainage allowing brief but definitive views and then flew
down slope to another jumble of brambles near the trail just before the trail
drops off towards the northern edge of the mountain.While David certainly got better looks than I did, there is no doubt it is a
SAGE SPARROW. The nominate A. n. nevadensis can be ruled out from overall
coloration and coloration of the malar stripe. However, I did not get a
good enough look to rule out A. n. canescens, though I do not recall seeing dark
ear coverts. My predilection is to call it A. n. (b.) belli, or BELL'S SPARROW,
mostly from the heavy black malar that I observed.With the fog, there's a good chance that the bird will hang around until
tomorrow morning. I'll probably be there, and ASH may be there as well.Great find, David!
4.28 Re: Sage Sparrow at Mt. Davidson
Yes. Better directions follow:- From the cross, walk NE along the summit plateau, an area which is
relatively flat, until you find the concrete box.
- There, descend slightly and to the northeast to another fairly flat area
- Continue walking more or less NE towards a prominent, solitary eucalyptus tree.
- On the way towards this euc, you will pass a trail which descends a
prominent ravine down the northern face of the mountain. This ravine is filled with
elderberry on the upper half, turning to mature, flowering eucalyptus trees
farther down the ravine.The bird was first seen high on the aforementioned trail and which leads down
the north face. This point on the trail is almost directly below the
solitary euc mentioned above. It then flew across the ravine to another set of
brambles, affording the best views I had, and then flew down the ravine to another set
of brambles near this same trail, whereupon I lost it.Sorry to hear you didn't find it, but I have to say I'm glad I didn't get up
this morning to try to refind it again. :-)Home
You can contact me via email.