[SBB] Recent Monte Bello birds

Hello All,

An adult, tan-striped White-throated Sparrow was present at the little pond at Monte Bello Preserve's gate 5 pond this morning 11/8/2006. It was associating with juncos and Golden-crowned Sparrows (and one Lincoln's Sparrow) in coyote brush at the fringes of the pond. Two Soras remain there as well, and 3 Ring-necked Ducks were fall newcomers to the pond. Varied Thrushes could be heard among the trees nearby.

On Sunday 11/5 I had a continuing Lawrence's Goldfinch at the pond, but I did not detect it today. Also present on Sunday were 4 Hooded Mergansers.

Early on Monday 11/6 I walked the Canyon Trail/Bella Vista/Indian Creek/Monte Bello Road loop at the preserve to see if the LAGO at the pond was part of a bigger phenomenon in the high country. The jury is still out on that, but I did have individual LAGO flyovers 3 different times over the course of my 2-hour walk. Nothing else of real significance turned up, although Varied Thrushes were widespread (but much easier to detect by their calls than by sight!) I had a minimum of 16 VATH on the loop.

--Garth Harwood