Friends

Today was the third of three clear, hot days this week, good weather for getting out there and back early. I was at the top of the rise by dawn and by the time I was there again two and a half hours later it was warmer than I like. Two warblers, a Townsend's and a Yellow, were the only incoming migrants. Migrants I thought had left were Western Wood-pewee, Western Flycatcher, Swainson's Thrush, and two Black-headed Grosbeaks who seemed to be heading west. The Western Tanager I think was just passing through. I was surprised to see a single American White Pelican on San Pablo Reservoir; I think they're around all year now. ( The list: )

There's a chance of rain tomorrow night. I'll believe it when I hear it!

There was fog but it wasn't blowing so very hard so I put on a windbreaker and started down the trail ten or fifteen minutes after the initially invisible sunrise. But soon the fog thinned enough for me to see where the sun was, so that was a good start. It as quiet on the way out to the north end of the trail, and out there it was very quiet. I didn't find a single new species there, bar the probable thus unreportable Blue-gray Gnatcatchers at the point on return. No vocalizations but one or more small, blueish birds flitting about with Chestnut-backed Chickadees and Lesser Goldfinches. The sun made it's best attempt at 8:30 or so when I was approaching the very tall pines just north of the dip. Suddenly I was in the middle of great activity, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Bushtits, all three nuthatches, Bewick's Wrens, Purple Finches, Lesser Goldfinches, Dark-eyed Juncos, a pair of California Towhees, a Wilson's Warbler, and a flock of Townsend's Warblers. I reported six but I'm pretty sure there were more. I think they only flock when they are on migration, which they almost certainly were. It was wonderful, what we always hope for. Unfortunately I was at the end of my stamina and couldn't stay watching as long as I would have liked, but it did make the fog worthwhile. ( The list: )

I expected to run into game day detours and had learned a new alternate route home, but it's an evening game and nothing was blocked yet.:) Game days are such pain, especially since Cal Stadium is right at the beginning of the road I take up to the western ridge.

This morning I walked in from Cañon Drive on Memory Trail and met U and Chris at the top of Upper Packrat. I didn't pick a very birdy day for this, but it was wonderful to be up there with them again. Fewer Swainson's Thrushes and Wilson's Warblers, but there were still Warbling Vireos and U spotted an Orange-crowned Warbler. Only incoming bird was a Yellow Warbler making its kissy chip in the willows towards the north end of the trail. ( The list: )

This should have been the last Monday with chainsaws. Here's hoping.

U and I birded two parks in Albany/Richmond this morning. First Booker T Anderson, which is a nice riparian spot that's being taken care of better than formerly. The best thing for me was to be reminded of the Yellow Warbler chip note, because they have arrived. The only other Fall migrant was a Western Tanager. ( The list: )

Then we went to Creekside Park (Alameda County side), also a good place for Fall migrants as the season progresses and where there have recently been two interesting hummingbird species reported. Again, there were Yellow Warblers but I'm still waiting to see my first Townsend's Warbler of the season. Most exciting bird here was a White-breasted Nuthatch. I was only moderately excited when I heard it, but we were birding with Sam, who was very excited. Creekside is very near the Bay, not a place for White-breasted Nuthatch despite the oaks, and he said he'd been birding there for fifteen years without finding one. I was happy to help.:) ( The list: )

U's plan had been to bird Creekside and then BT Anderson, but I remembered that on the first Wednesday of the month an astonishingly loud siren goes off at 11 am. We were there once, and it was an experience. So we birded Anderson first, lowering to almost zero the chance we'd still be there at 11 am.