Reports to the Northern California BirdBox, transcribed for BirdWest by Adam Winer.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
28 April East of Livermore, a Blue Grosbeak was at milepost 5.90 along Patterson Pass Rd. Another Blue Grosbeak and several Rufous-crowned Sparrows were at milepost 6.21. Rich Cimino27 April Along the border between Union City and Fremont, a Solitary Sandpiper was in Alameda Creek. [The directions don't make sense to me, so I reproduce them here as Adam Winer transcribed them. --Larry] Take ???? from Hwy 880 to Santa Rosa Rd / H St. Turn right on Santa Rosa and continue 1.5 blocks to a small drainage ditch. Follow a trail along the ditch to Alameda Creek - the sandpiper was just upstream. Bob Richmond
13 April In Alameda, an Oldsquaw was off Crown Memorial State Beach, and a Red-necked Grebe was off the breakwater near Willie Stargill Field (turn into Alameda Park from Central Ave near Lincoln Ave and continue to the Boat Launch at the bay). In Oakland, a Peregrine Falcon was chasing shorebirds over San Leandro Bay. Helen Green
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
29 April In eastern Contra Costa County, a Gray Flycatcher was along Piper Slough, 100 yards west of the north end of Bethel Island Rd. A Hammond's Flycatcher was another couple hundred yards to the west. Up to 2 Blue Grosbeaks, 3 Yellow-breasted Chats, and 3 Black-chinned Hummingbirds were also in the area. Along Cypress Rd, 0.5 mile east of Hwy 4, were 2 Swainson's Hawks. Joe Morlan27 April In Richmond, 3 Black Oystercatchers were on West Brother Island. In the Berkeley Hills, a singing MacGillivray's Warbler was in the northwest corner of the picnic area outside the entrance to the Nature Area in Tilden Regional Park. Ken Burton
27 April In Richmond, a Brant was off Point Isabel toward Brooks Island, and 2 Oldsquaws were in Richmond Inner Harbor at the end of Harbor Way - a female Harlequin Duck may have been with them. In the area of Point Isabel were 20 Red Knots. A Brandt's Cormorant flew by the end of Harbor Way. In eastern Contra Costa County, 6 Swainson's Hawks were along Holland Tract Rd, two-thirds of the way to the end. A Short-eared Owl was on Jersey Island at 6:20 PM, and another was near Cypress Rd & Knighsen Ave. An American Bittern was on Jersey Island Rd. At Piper Slough (north end of Bethel Island Rd) were a Black-chinned Hummingbird, a Blue Grosbeak, and a Cattle Egret. A Yellow-billed Magpie was along Delta Rd, in the eucalyptus near the town of Knightsen. South of Clayton, a Hammond's Flycatcher was in the White Canyon area of Mount Diablo State Park, reached through Mitchell Canyon. Kevin Hintsa
26 April In eastern Contra Costa County at Piper Slough, accessed from the north end of Bethel Island Rd, were 5 male Black-chinned Hummingbirds, 4 male Yellow-breasted Chats, and a first-summer male Blue Grosbeak. George Finger
23 April In eastern Contra Costa County at Piper Slough (north end of Bethel Island Rd) were 4 Yellow-breasted Chats, 4 Black-chinned Hummingbirds, a Black-throated Gray Warbler, 4 Nashville Warblers, 2 Swainson's Hawks, and a Rough-legged Hawk. Along Holland Tract Rd were 2 more Swainson's Hawks. Florence Bennett
23 April South of Clayton, an alternate-plumaged White-throated Sparrow was in Mitchell Canyon in Mount Diablo State Park, about 0.25 mile from the gate on Mitchell Canyon Rd, in oak trees on the left side of the trail and just in line with a small white building to the east. Marjorie Plant
21 April South of Clayton, 2 Hammond's Flycatchers, a Hermit Warbler, and a Nashville Warbler were in the first mile of Mitchell Canyon in Mount Diablo State Park. Dennis Wolff
20 April South of Clayton, 4 Hammond's Flycatchers were in the first mile of Mitchell Canyon in Mount Diablo State Park. George Finger
18 April In the Berkeley Hills, 2 male Calliope Hummingbirds were displaying next to the Loop Trail road in Tilden Regional Park Nature Area, in the open glade of gum trees [eucalyptus] three-eighths mile from Jewel Lake. Lew Cooper
18 April In Lafayette, a Great-tailed Grackle was at Lafayette Reservoir. Kelly Fleming
13 April In Mount Diablo State Park, 4 Sage Sparrows were seen along the first 50 yards of the fire service road to the Pioneer Area. This road is off the right side of Summit Rd, just past the Blue Oak Knoll picnic area. Park near the closed gate and walk in. Florence Bennett
10 April South of Clayton, the only migrant warbler found in Mitchell Canyon in Mount Diablo State Park was a MacGillivray's Warbler 100 yards before the White Canyon marker post. A Hammond's Flycatcher was in the canyon. George Finger
9 April In eastern Contra Costa County, 1 or maybe 2 Black-chinned Hummingbirds were at Piper Slough, at the north end of Bethel Island Rd. Please do not look into the houses in this area. Near Knightsen, 2 pairs of Yellow-billed Magpies were coming to the only known county nesting site, in a eucalyptus grove on Delta Rd (the address may be 4230). Steve Glover
8 April South of Clayton, 5 Hammond's Flycatchers and a Nashville Warbler were in Mitchell Canyon in Mount Diablo State Park. Steve Glover