[SBB] Yet another NOWA report; YBSA, too

[Les Chibana <[[email protected]]>]

This morning from 9:15 - 9:45, I had several detections and sightings 
of the continuing NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH at the Charleston Marsh in the 
North Shoreline area of Mountain View. It was in its usually reported 
spot, the southeast corner of the marsh near the pumphouse.

To give you an idea of some of its behavior, here's what I experienced:

As with most reports, I first heard the bird chipping its loud, sharp 
chip. If you are unfamiliar with this note, it's louder and harder 
sounding than a Yellow-rumped Warbler's "chep" (some are in the area), 
and not as metallic sounding as a California Towhee's "CHINK!" (also in 
the area). I zeroed in on the bird sitting at mid-level in the willow 
in SE corner of the marsh. It was dipping its butt and tail. After too 
short a time, it dropped down out of sight and stopped calling.

I walked westward along the south side path, recalling that some people 
had found it closer to the 2nd volleyball net. After a few minutes, I 
heard it again about 20 ft. west of the SE corner. It was moving to the 
west and paused in the tallest willow about 30 yards from the SE 
corner. Then, it flew back toward the pumpstation, still calling. When 
I got to the pumpstation, it was calling from a short willow straight 
out from the apex of the isoceles-triangular drain basin. It flew back 
toward the  SE corner, stopping in a willow close to the path. Then, it 
dropped down into the cattails in the corner and went silent. I went 
down to the water's edge next to the pumpstation and was able to see it 
foraging on a bit of mud at the base of the rushes. When it moved out 
of sight, I went back up near the trail to find a better vantage point 
to check the mud just beyond the cattails. The bird flushed a few feet 
and started chipping again, still on the muddy patches in this corner 
of the marsh. It was easy to locate when it chipped, when it stopped I 
lost track of the bird.

I was not able to get a good clear photo-op with this bird. And for 
those of you who keep track, this was my third try for this bird in the 
last couple of weeks. AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are "coloring up" and a few 
CEDAR WAXWINGS were in the area.

The YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER continues at Hidden Villa Farm/Ranch in 
Los Altos. As I approached the magnolia tree near the chicken pen in 
the back of the valley, the bird flew from the direction of the 
magnolia to the oak in the middle of the road further up the valley. 
Then it flew and disappeared behind the small barn.

A WARBLING VIREO was in full song near the Duveneck house.

Les
---
Les Chibana
BirdNUTZ(tm) - Ornigasmic Birding
Palo Alto Baylands Birding Classes
Birding by Ear Classes at SCVAS
em <[[email protected]]>
web <http://www.birdnutz.com>
ph 650-949-4335
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snailmail: SR2 Box 335, La Honda CA 94020
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