[SBB] Stevens Creek CP Birding

["Peggy Don" <[[email protected]]>]

SBBers:

Yesterday (06/22/05) afternoon I walked along Stevens Canyon Road from below the third bridge to above the 4th bridge looking for an American Dipper.  I briefly saw one fly upstream from above the third bridge but there's no joy in that.  A female BELTED KINGFISHER kept me company during my walk upstream.  This morning I repeated the search but did not find a dipper.  There were 11 BAND-TAILED PIGEONs perched on a dead tree across the road. 

The birding was better along the Creek Trail starting from the Cooley Picnic Area.  DARK-EYED JUNCOs and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEEs with their fledglings were numerous at the beginning of the trail.  Across the creek was a female BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK on the wire with food in its bill.  Two WESTERN WOOD-PEWEEs called and sallied forth repeatedly from bare branches.  A PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER called "tseweeply" up the trail.  I heard/saw 4 along the trail.  A HUTTON'S VIREO foraged silently.  At the creek crossing a male WILSON'S WARBLER flew into view.  Yesterday at this location I watched a CALIFORNIA TOWHEE juvenile scratch in the litter and then lift its head for food from its parent.  Pretty cute!  Then, as it bathed a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER juvenile joined in briefly.  On my return I heard a couple of PURPLE FINCHes.  Then two Wilson's Warblers flew across the trail.  They came within 4 feet of my head.  Binoculars were not necessay.  At least one had food in its bill.  Back at the picnic area a WARBLING VIREO sang across the creek.  I looked up as usual but it had mercy on my neck and flitted about below my eye level.

Being a glutton for disappointment I decided to look for a dipper again before going home.  It was quiet upstream from the third bridge.  As I did yesterday on my return I stopped below the first bridge.  Aha!  An AMERICAN DIPPER flew up the creek.  It stopped at some rocks to forage.  This dipper is a juvenile.  It is light gray.  The upperpart is darker than the underpart.  The throat is white.  There is slight streaking on its breast going from the throat to the belly.  Its lower mandible is orange.  It has a dark eystrip and a white supercilium that is evident with its eyelid up  The tertials are edged in white.  It was a fitting conclusion to a beautiful morning.

Good birding,
Peggy Don
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