[SBB] Guadalupe River trail sparrow

[Janna Pauser <[[email protected]]>]

I birded along the Guadalupe River Trail this afternoon from Blossom Hill Rd. north to 85. I checked the pond under the freeway where Peggy Don found the Horned Grebes a few days ago, but they had left.

Just north of Blossom Hill Rd. there's a row of granite boulders.  I did a double chip call and up popped two Lincoln's Sparrows and another tiny sparrow near the creek. Last year a Brewers Sparrow was at this same spot. This sparrow was very aware of me and gave a constant warning call with raised crest. It was boldly marked with a dark eyeline. It had a small pink beak, two white wing bars, a brown crown with a white or gray median stripe, a whitish throat and a clear gray nape. I can't recall if the supercillium was tan or white. It's tan cheek contrasted with a white malar. The undersides were unmarked. (The CCSP seen at the water district had a distinct buffy/peachy breast and sides). 

I've gone back and forth with this bird and cannot decide if its a Chipping or Clay colored Sparrow. I hope someone can find this bird on the trail along Blossom River Drive which is a few blocks east of Almaden Ex. off Blossom Hill Rd. 

There's at least one kitten hidden in the granite boulders. I saw a very young mother cat and heard the kittens constant cry, which was very upsetting and distracting. There was a cat here last year also and coincidentally, the Brewers Sparrow was missing its tail. 

Janna Pauser  


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