[SBB] Black-chinned Sparrows

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

I was alone with the birds on Bald Mountain from 6:30 to 8 am this 
morning. I drove through heavy fog up Mt. Umunhum Rd, but the mountain 
top was sunny. My first bird was an adult male BLACK CHINNED SPARROW in 
breeding plumage. (thanks Ann!!) He was on Coyote Brush near the 
trailhead and flew from one side of the trail to the other singing each 
time he perched. Another gray headed BCSP joined him but didn't sing. I 
could hear another BCSP singing further down the trail which I didn't 
pursue.

A male LAZULI BUNTING sang from an elderberry, while a female LABU 
carried nest material to a low shrub near the trailhead. I watched her 
return to the same bush four times. She's equally as attractive as the 
male. Also seen were Wrentit, a very close singing Olive sided 
Flycatcher, male Western Tanager, Cal. Quail, Orange-crowned Warbler and 
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Warbling Vireo, Cal. Thrasher and Purple Finch 
were heard only.

As I drove down Bald Mt. I heard the distinctive song of a Hermit 
Warbler on the west side of the road. I met my husband at the Woods Rd. 
trail parking lot and we walked out to see the Golden Eagle nest. It can 
be found in a broad canopied Douglas Fir across the canyon from a 
lookout area where high tension wires drape over the trail. A mile in 
there's a close point where we could hear a chick calling from the nest, 
but we could not see the nest from here. We walked up to the eucalyptus 
grove where the nest could barely be seen with 8 power binoculars. No 
adult eagles were seen today, but were seen on our last trip here, May 
1st. At least a dozen each Orange crowned Warblers and Hutton's Vireos 
were heard and seen along the Woods Trail.

Janna Pauser

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