[SBB] MB05 & Hidden Villa today 4/9/2007

Today 4/9/2007, was a busy one for birds at the little pond below Monte Bello's gate 5. Of 48 species observed there, several were of special interest. The Sora was still around, as was a pair of male Ring-necked Ducks and a distantly-calling Red-breasted Nuthatch (it always seems to be just one of those). A Northern Rough-winged Swallow was present again and very vocal, as it foraged with a couple of barn Swallows and a Violet-green. A Sharp-shinned Hawk cruised over. The resident Redwings seemed to drive off a flyover Brown-headed Cowbird. A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher hung out in the willows for a while, and two Lincoln's Sparrows were still there too. Three separate Black-throated Gray Warblers could be heard in different directions, although none visited the pond itself (although a Wilson's Warbler sang there for a while.)

At Hidden Villa, I had my first Ash-throated Flycatcher of the season, and briefly heard a Pileated Woodpecker's calls from near the origin of the Creek Trail. This was the third HV record of PIWO.