Nothing rare to report, but it was nice to hear and see my first Hermit Thrush of the fall season on the west side of Briones Reservoir - Bear Creek Staging Area (EBMUD permit required). I heard the whistle call first, then that distinctive "chuck" call at an extremely low volume. Both birds were within inches of one another. I got brief looks at the first bird, then a great, half-minute, eye-level-within-20-feet view of the second. My guess is these birds had just arrived or maybe were moving through.
Between that Hermit Thrush "chuck" note and White-crowned Sparrows singing, it really sounds like fall!
