Re: [SBB] Stevens Creek north of L'Avenida

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Mike,

Your description got me to looking in my reference books.  

You may want to look in a copy of FINCHES and SPARROWS, by Clement, Harris & Davis.  The suggestion based on your description sounds like it may fit Nigrita luteifrons (Pale-fronted Negro-finch),Plate 34, pg 86, text pg 328.  I don't have a scanner, but you may be able to find a photo or illustration on the web, if you don't have access to a copy of the book.

--
Randy Little, 
Milpitas, CA 
chenrossii AT comcast DOT net 

"I bird because the voices in my 
head tell me to." 




-------------- Original message -------------- 

> 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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