A Western Wood-peewee?  That was first impulse but as Dick Ashford points out, even in my fuzzy pictures you can see the eyering is heavier in the back–thus a Pacific-slope.  Also, thjis bird was insect hawking along Ashland Creek where the slightly warmer air provided a slightly better chance at a meal.  And Peewees like higher positions, burther up in the canopy. 

The temps never got above 48 degrees today.

 

 

 

 

 

The warblers were equally frantic in hunting insects.  Wilson’s, Yellow-rumped Warblers and Common Yellowthroat all foraged right along the creek, some just above the rushing snowmelt.  Not far over the water were equally hungry swallows: Barn, Northern Rough-winged and Violet-green.  The NRWs especially seemed equipped to fly like accipiters, actually swerving around snags and fallen logs within inches of the running water.  As usual, far above treetops there were a loose swarm of Tree Swallows.

In late afternoon there was a scant slant of sunshine onto the west-facing slope along Glenview Road.  And a warbler flock found the warmest side of the trees.  Yellow-rumps dominated, but there were at least two Nashville and a Black-throated Gray.  One Ruby-crowned Kinglet served as flock mascot.  Further uphill we’d seen a Pac-slope Flycatcher and heard the neighborhood Pileated holler just once.

Location:     Bear Valley Greenway–Ashland
Observation date:     4/21/08
Number of species:     34

Canada Goose     2
Wood Duck     2
Mallard     7
Common Merganser     1
Turkey Vulture     2
American Kestrel     1
Wilson’s Snipe     1
Rock Pigeon     2
Mourning Dove     1
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)     1
Western Wood-Pewee     0
Pacific-slope Flycatcher     2
Western Scrub-Jay     4
American Crow     3
Tree Swallow     18
Violet-green Swallow     8
Northern Rough-winged Swallow     4
Barn Swallow     6
Bewick’s Wren     1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     1
Hermit Thrush     5
American Robin     3
European Starling     13
Yellow-rumped Warbler     13
Common Yellowthroat     4
Wilson’s Warbler     5
Song Sparrow     2
Lincoln’s Sparrow     4
Golden-crowned Sparrow     3
Red-winged Blackbird     18
Brewer’s Blackbird     19
Purple Finch     3
House Finch     1
Lesser Goldfinch     6
House Sparrow     4
——-

Location:     Glenview Drive–Ashland
Observation date:     4/21/08
Number of species:     11

Mallard     1
Bufflehead     2
Turkey Vulture     1
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)     2
Pileated Woodpecker     1
Pacific-slope Flycatcher     1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     2
Nashville Warbler     2
Yellow-rumped Warbler     15
Black-throated Gray Warbler     1
Spotted Towhee     2