[SBB] White-throated Sparrows, Prairie Falcon and Merlin

This morning as we drove toward Coyote Reservoir, Frank Vanslager and I saw a MERLIN in an Oak on the north side of Roop Road. Later at the campgrounds we had great views of the white-striped WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (previously reported by Linda Adams) which was with a mixed group of WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS, SPOTTED TOWHEE, DARK-EYED JUNCO, AMERICAN ROBIN and NORTHERN FLICKER. It was very cold and windy this morning and individual birds in this flock were hard to see as they foraged in the grass, leaves and weeds when we birded from the ground (or even from the top of picnic tables) so as the flock moved counterclockwise around the outer portion of the campground we position the car some distance in front of the flock and let the birds come to us. In this way we got great views of the WTSP, as well as the other species, and we were fairly comfortable doing it. It should be noted that this is how Linda first found and has continued re-find the bird (always from the car which makes a nice blind). I should note that Linda and crew were also there today doing a Back Yard Bird Count. Frank and I then went to the Dam where we were once again cold and getting wetter. Frank managed to hear a ROCK WREN and a WRENTIT call but otherwise there was very little activity at the Dam. Later, however, as neared the fence, heading toward the parking lot, we spotted a small flock of Golden-crowned Sparrows atop of the reservoir side rocks and just as quickly noted that the nearest bird was another white-striped White-throated Sparrow! This bird did not seem as bright as the first WTSP but somehow the yellow lores seemed brighter. Our last notable bird of the day was a PRAIRIE FALCON perched in a Eucalyptus tree east of Hwy 152 on Bloomfield Rd (near the dump). A pair of RED-TAILED HAWKS soon flushed the falcon and it flew, low to the ground, toward the southeast and San Felipe (Soap) Lake. Once again, no Ferruginous Hawk at Rucker and New Ave's in Gilroy:-(