February 8, 2005
Davis White-throated Sparrow and other miscellany
I took a bike ride over to West Davis to look for a White-throated Sparrow found by Stella Taylor. Roger Adamson located it shortly after 8am and I managed to get these shots of the bird, a bright adult.
Joan and I successfully twitched California Thrasher for the CV Big Year in the extreme north of the county (no 178). Two Purple Finches were also about, as was this perched Golden Eagle.
An evening bike ride around north Davis produced at least 20 Wilson's Snipe on North Pond...
... while three Merlins continue to roost in the redwoods here. I managed to photograph two of them. The first bird is a male by his pale grey back, while the brown back of bird 2 suggests a female or immature. It's difficult to assign them to a specific race as the strong evening sunlight tends to obscure their 'true' colours. Such a treat to see them so well!
