Subject: [Tweeters] (no subject)
Date: Apr 30 13:51:20 2011
From: Daniel Lipinski - dano135 at hotmail.com



I have an unconfirmed Rusty Blackbird spotted at Discovery Park. It was
seen just north of the lighthouse along the northbeach trail (?) sitting
on a branch singing by the waste water plant, before the first
boardwalk thru the wetland area. It had an irredescent sheen (def no
starling) to it and its song comprised of only a few short notes in
which it thrust its tail underneath of it while singing. There were many
Red wing balckbirds singing nearby and the song was very different
(short with no trill or gurgling at end, also a different pitch). Its
eye (seemed black) was not light which at first made me dismiss Brewers
bbirds and the bill was too thin to be a cowbird. It also seemed
slightly smaller than the Red wings, I have seen many immature redwing
bbirds and this guy did not show the similiar plumage change (he was def
solid black with iridescence) . I am not sure if it was a redwing
without wingbars singing a different song.... because the obvious
blueish/black iridescence on rump and tail (reminds me of grackles I
used to see when I lived in Ohio)..... Could have been a brewers but I
have only seen them in parking lots and this guy was along the beach
and wetland.... I havent seen any other reports of Rusty's on discovery
parks bird list. Hopefully someone else will spot him. I will try and
go back soon with a camera. Hopefully he wasn't just passing thru.

Thanks alot and I hope its not a wild goose chase, I spend alot of time birding in that park and this guy was new to me,

Dan Lipinski