Reports to the Northern California BirdBox, transcribed for BirdWest by Adam Winer.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
29 April Near Sunol, a Hammond's Flycatcher, many Nashville Warblers, a Vaux's Swift, and a half-dozen Wild Turkeys were in Sunol Regional Wilderness. Joe Morlan23 April In Albany, a breeding-plumaged Semipalmated Sandpiper was at the mouth of Codornices Creek at the Albany Mudflats, just north of Golden Gate Fields and just past where the creek crosses under Buchanan St. It was seen from 10:15 to 11 AM during the outgoing tide. This plumage is rarely seen on the west coast. Joe Morlan
22 April East of Livermore on Patterson Pass Rd, 3 male grosbeaks [Blue Grosbeaks?] were between mileposts 5.90 and 6.21. Last year, Blue Grosbeaks nested in wet areas along the ridgeside at mileposts 4.90 and 4.35. A single Lawrence's Goldfinch was at milepost 6.21. Rich Cimino
22 April In Fremont, a very dark, contrasty Tringa sp. [yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, etc.] with bright red-orange legs was along Marshlands Rd, the old causeway to the Dumbarton Bridge, which is now closed to automobile traffic for the protection of nesting birds. [Park at the Visitor Center for the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and continue walking along the road past the gate.] Terry Coddington
17 April Southeast of Livermore, a singing Rufous-crowned Sparrow was at milepost 5.17 on Mines Rd, and a Hammond's Flycatcher was just east of milepost 13.83. Florence Bennett
12 April Southeast of Livermore, a Greater Roadrunner was at milepost 5.9 on Mines Rd, and another at milepost 8.29. George Finger
11 April In Hayward, a Rough-legged Hawk was perched just north of the Hesperian Blvd exit from Hwy 880. Donna Lyon
11 April In Hayward, a Common Black-headed Gull was seen flying south past the mouth of Sulphur Creek (north of the W Winton Ave entrance to Hayward Regional Shoreline). Bob Richmond
10 April Southeast of Livermore, a male MacGillivray's Warbler was in the willows along Mines Rd about 6.3 miles north of the Santa Clara County border. The wildflowers along the higher stretches of the Mines Rd / Del Puerto Canyon Rd loop are at their peak. George Finger
9 April Southeast of Livermore, a Greater Roadrunner was seen at milepost 5.99 along Mines Rd. Rick ??
9 April In Hayward, the Oldsquaw was seen again near the Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center. From the end of Breakwater Dr, scope the two ponds north of the bridge approach. It was in a group of goldeneyes and some scaup on the far west side of the ponds. Anna Wilcox
8 April In Oakland / Alameda, a Least Tern was seen flying over a tidal pond near Oakland Airport, viewed from Harbor Bay Pkwy, then west over San Francisco Bay. Lee Roseby
3 April In Hayward, the male Oldsquaw was still with the group of 20 Common Goldeneyes in the ponds to the left of the levee trail from Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center. Anna Wilcox
2 April In Hayward, an Oldsquaw was with a group of 20 Common Goldeneyes in either of two large ponds to the left of the trail at the south end of Hayward Regional Shoreline. Rusty Scalf
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
30 April In Richmond, 3 Black Oystercatchers were at Brickyard Cove (continue south past Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline, and then swing east). A flock of 22 Red Knots were along the edge of El Cerrito Creek, seen from Point Isabel (the creek is the border with Alameda County). South of Clayton, a Nashville Warbler, a Rufous Hummingbird, and 2 Hammond's Flycatchers were in Mitchell Canyon in Mount Diablo State Park. In Clayton, a Hooded Oriole and a male Phainopepla were along Mitchell Canyon Rd between Herriman Dr and Mitchell Canyon Ct. Kevin Hintsa30 April Between Knightsen and Brentwood, a light-phase Swainson's Hawk was at Sellers Ave & Delta Rd. Mike Feighner
28 April In eastern Contra Costa County, 3 singing male Blue Grosbeaks and 3 singing Yellow-breasted Chats were at Piper Slough (north end of Bethel Island Rd). A pair of Hooded Orioles were at the house next to the end of the road. A male Black-chinned Hummingbird was on a small snag just west of the parking area and just beyond the two dead black trees. Steve Glover
24 April In eastern Contra Costa County, an early Willow Flycatcher was at Piper Slough (north end of Bethel Island Rd). George Finger
24 April In eastern Contra Costa County, a male Black-chinned Hummingbird was at Piper Slough, at the parking area at the north end of Bethel Island Rd. A singing Yellow-breasted Chat was in the field adjacent to the dike, half a mile west of the parking area. Steve Glover
22 April In Richmond, the male Harlequin Duck was refound at Brooks Island. Park at the harbormaster's office at the end of Marina Way, take the trail toward the bay, and scope west toward Brooks Island. The bird frequently sits on the island, and it spent last summer in the area. Steve Glover
22 April South of Clayton, in White Canyon, about 200 yards up from the junction with Mitchell Canyon in Mount Diablo State Park, was a male Calliope Hummingbird. Several Hammond's Flycatchers were seen up and down both Mitchell and White Canyons. In Clayton, a male Phainopepla was in a residential area along Mitchell Canyon Rd, just south of Mitchell Canyon Ct. George Finger
21 April In Martinez, Hammond's Flycatchers are in the blue oaks at Hidden Lakes Park. Denise Wight
19 April In Richmond, 21 Pelagic Cormorants including 3 nests with young were at Point San Pablo. Take the last offramp on Hwy 580 before the bridge to San Rafael, and drive to the end of the road. The cormorants are nesting on a small island next to the lighthouse island [East Brother Island]. This is the first nesting record of this species for the East Bay, and perhaps for the entire Bay Area. Steve Glover
19 April South of Clayton, in the White Canyon section of Mitchell Canyon in Mount Diablo State Park, were a male Calliope Hummingbird and 10 Hammond's Flycatchers. In Clayton, a male Phainopepla was along Mitchell Canyon Rd near Mitchell Canyon Ct. In eastern Contra Costa County, a light-phase Swainson's Hawk was flying in the area of the delta on Jersey Island Rd. Also along Jersey Island Rd were 2 American Bitterns. Along Delta Rd between Eden Plains Rd and the Byron Hwy, a Yellow-billed Magpie was in a row of eucalyptus trees. In Piper Slough at the north end of Bethel Island Rd was a Black-chinned Hummingbird. South of Brentwood at Marsh Creek Reservoir, Tricolored Blackbirds were fairly common - do not leave the road shoulder here. Kevin Hintsa, Jim Lomax
17 April In eastern Contra Costa County, the first Yellow-breasted Chat of the season arrived at Piper Slough (go to the north end of Bethel Island Rd and walk left along the levee). It may be worthwhile to wait another week for a visit, as 4 to 5 pairs breed in this area, and Blue Grosbeaks have not yet arrived. Steve Glover
15 April South of Clayton, in Mitchell Canyon in Mount Diablo State Park, in addition to birds reported previously, was a White-throated Sparrow about 0.25 mile up the Mitchell Canyon trail. Chris Carpenter
14 April South of Clayton, in Mitchell and White Canyons in Mount Diablo State Park, were 2 Hammond's Flycatchers, a Calliope Hummingbird, 4 Lazuli Buntings, and six species of warbler including Nashville Warbler and Black-throated Gray Warbler. Daan Sandee (Another report on this area was cut short after mentioning a Gray Flycatcher.)
13 April South of Clayton, in Mitchell and White Canyons in Mount Diablo State Park, were 19 Hammond's Flycatchers (nearly all of them calling), 6 Pacific-slope Flycatchers, 12 male Rufous Hummingbirds, 2 Calliope Hummingbirds, 10 Nashville Warblers, and 13 Black-throated Gray Warblers. Steve Glover
4 April South of Clayton, a Black-chinned Hummingbird was in Mitchell Canyon [Mount Diablo State Park], 200 yards beyond the junction of White and Mitchell Canyons. Near the top of White Canyon were a Hammond's Flycatcher and a Sage Sparrow. George Finger