[SBB] Stevens Creek north of L'Avenida

[Mike Rogers <[[email protected]]>]

All,

On the way into work this morning 8/29/05, I looked for migrants along 
Stevens Creek north of Highway 101 in Mountain View, walking along the 
creek from L'Avenida to Crittenden Lane and back. Migrants were present, 
but a bit secretive. I found 2+ VAUX'S SWIFTS, 1 calling WILLOW 
FLYCATCHER (100 yards north of L'Avenida), 3+ VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, 2 
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS (one singing half-heartedly), 7+ YELLOW 
WARBLERS, 2 WILSON'S WARBLERS, and 1 BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. An OSPREY 
heading north over Moffett Field was a surprise, although not 
unprecedented. An early returning adult CEDAR WAXWING was working the 
elderberries 100 yards north of L'Avenida.

While near the "lone eucalyptus" south of Crittenden Lane, a small 
passerine flew south along the corridor giving an unfamiliar repeated 
"dyip" call - an interesting bird that got away. Then later, while 
heading back south, I heard an unfamiliar repeated nasal "spey", almost 
catbird-like, near the creek crossover. I tried to see this bird, but 
failed until it flew a bit north, giving the same "dyip" or "byip" 
flight call I heard previously. After this, I managed to get a look at 
the bird while it perched near the top of a tree - unfortunately I was 
looking nearly into the sun, so views were not good. But I did see 
enough to realize that it must be another escaped exotic (joining Orange 
Bishop, Zebra Finch, European Goldfinch, and others I have found along 
this stretch of creek). It was about the size of a goldfinch but longer 
tailed - in flight having the proportions of a small sparrow. While 
sitting near the top of the tree it looked like a miniature shrike with 
its tail cocked upward. Overall the bird appeared fairly gray and weakly 
patterned (although the lighting may have exaggerated this impression). 
It had a blackish mask through the eye, a pale whitish throat (paler 
than the rest of the underparts), and a fairly heavy bill. If anyone has 
an idea about what this is, I'd love to hear it.

Mike Rogers

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