Hidden Paths

Weather fronts can bring in migrants, but whatever brought a little rain last night seems to have chased off what was already here. I was tired and just walked up the road while U and Chris walked Upper Packrat, and although I heard a lot of Corvids and a few other birds, I saw just one, a Hermit Thrush chasing presumably another Hermit Thrush. No one was at the Lake except for a Song Sparrow or two, not even the resident Black Phoebe, nothing like the warblers last week. We did hear one Townsend's Warbler along the road, but none of us got a good view. ( The list: )

I think things can't get quieter and then they do. Maybe next week.

This morning U and I went to chase rare migrants around North Lake in Golden Gate Park. Driving out Fulton reminded me just how enormous that Park is! Anyway, we parked about 7:45 and walked clockwise around the Lake, then retracing out steps from the northeast corner. There were quite a few birders and photographers looking for the Chestnut-sided Warbler and the Blackpoll Warbler that had been reported there, and while we dipped on the Blackpoll we found some folks who'd found the Chestnut-sided and got some diagnostic if not wonderful looks. I'd see Chestnut-sided before - in winter they have an amazing hi-viz yellow-green head - and was more excited by the Black-headed Grosbeak that I heard and that was later seen by others. ( The first list: )

Back in the East Bay we stopped at Emeryville Marina to look for the Palm Warbler that's being reported. (Like so many warblers they are hilariously misnamed: they breed in Canada.) Some folks were on it when we arrived but I think the photographer pushed too close and the bird flew off. We wandered around for a while without luck, and when U said she was going to make a final loop I said I'd go back to where it had been when we arrived, and there it was: rufous crown, yellow below, and bobbing tail. So we both got pretty good looks. ( Another little list: )

Again, we'd seen this bird before at the edge of Berkeley Meadow, and I was more impressed by the long lines of Brown Pelicans and the Osprey fishing just off shore. What a wonderful morning!

It was a beautiful morning. There were Golden-crowned Sparrows in the spot that seems to attract all the sparrows, and Fox Sparrows at the junction of Lower and Upper Packrat Trails. Then the lower trail was very quiet until I neared Jewel Lake. The frustrating fun was at the Lake, four or five Townsend's Warblers, a Black-throated Gray Warbler, a Wilson's Warbler that I didn't get a very good look at, a Yellow-rumped Warbler we only heard, and a nondescript mystery warbler that none of us could decide about. Fun moment was when a Downy Woodpecker landed in full view on a nearby snag. So tiny! ( The list: )

U and Chris had a somewhat different list on Upper Packrat, including a Yellow Warbler and a Cassin's Vireo! I am envious.

It was clear before dawn and stayed cool til I left, an almost perfect morning. A front had come through a few days ago and I was hoping it had brought warblers but it did not to this trail, at least. What it probably did bring were four new arrivals: a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, a Hermit Thrush, and zonos, two White-crowned Sparrows, which I don't often see there, and two flocks of Golden-crowned Sparrows. We weren't expecting the sparrows for several more weeks. Interestingly, just after I texted U and Chris about the zonos I saw U's email that she'd had a Golden-crown on her suet that morning. I guess they are really here. ( The list: )

Also fun were several coveys of California Quail; last visit I neither heard nor saw any at all. The first flock was just down slope from the crest, so I stayed there quite a while as the sun rose and the Quail foraged quietly. As often there was a small cottontail with them.

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!