Reports to the Northern California BirdBox, transcribed for BirdWest by Adam Winer.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
26 May In Hayward, 2 Black Terns were at Hayward Regional Shoreline. From the Interpretive Center, follow the trail to the bay past a U-turn to a straight section - look east over the chainlink fence to a pond where the terns were flying. David Lai21 May In northern Alameda County, a survey on private property noted a female Costa's Hummingbird, 16 Calliope Hummingbirds, 42 Lawrence's Goldfinches, 33 Hermit Warblers, and 53 Townsend's Warblers. Steve Rottenborn
15 May Southeast of Livermore, a Prairie Falcon, 6 pairs of Phainopeplas, and Rufous-crowned Sparrows were at milepost 5.75 on Mines Rd. East of Livermore, 6 Blue Grosbeaks were at milepost 6.21 on Patterson Pass Rd. Florence Bennett
12 May In Oakland, a pair of Red Phalaropes have been at Arrowhead Marsh in Martin Luther King Jr Regional Shoreline for the past few days. Courtenay Peddle
8 May In Hayward, 2 Black Skimmers were at Hayward Regional Shoreline, inland from the Johnson's Landing area. Kevin Hintsa
8 May Southeast of Livermore, a pair of Bald Eagles reportedly are nesting at Del Valle Regional Park. Van Gilbert
4 May In Hayward, a Red Phalarope, 24 Red Knots, 2 Black Skimmers, 20 Ruddy Turnstones, and a Sanderling were at Hayward Regional Shoreline. Nick Lethaby
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
29 May On Mount Diablo, 3 singing male Black-chinned Sparrows were along South Gate Rd, 0.25 mile below the south entrance station. Several Sage Sparrows and Black-chinned Sparrows also were seen from Summit Rd, looking upslope toward the Muir picnic area. Florence Bennett29 May In Richmond, 5 or possibly 6 Oldsquaws were on the beach to the left of the base of the pier on Brooks Island. Park at the harbormaster's office at the end of Marina Way, walk to the bay, and scope toward Brooks Island. A scope is required, and morning light is strongly recommended. Steve Glover
26 May In Tilden Regional Park, a singing Black-and-white Warbler was on Lone Oak Rd in willows along Wildcat Creek, between the Lone Oak picnic grounds and the Meadows Playfield, and about 100 to 200 yards south of the pony ride. Emilie Strauss
24 May In Mount Diablo State Park south of Clayton, a Gray Flycatcher was along the Back Creek Trail, above the junction with the Meridian Point Trail, and about 2 miles from the parking area at the end of Regency Dr. George Finger
20 May On Mount Diablo, 2 Black-chinned Sparrows were at South Gate Rd, 3 to 3.4 miles from Mount Diablo Rd - no parking is allowed here. One or more Hermit Warblers were at the Pines picnic area, and a singing Sage Sparrow and a Black-chinned Sparrow were at the new water tank at Pioneer Campground. Several Sage Sparrows, a Black-chinned Sparrow, a Hermit Warbler, and 2 Lawrence's Goldfinches were at Muir picnic area, along the slope at the turnaround. Between the Upper and Lower Summit parking lots were 2 Lawrence's Goldfinches and a Hermit Warbler. Kevin Hintsa
14 May In eastern Contra Costa County, a female Summer Tanager was along Piper Slough, in the line of tall trees south of the levee and about 0.25 mile west of the north end of Bethel Island Rd. An Osprey was at the end of Orwood Rd, near Mason. Several pairs of Blue Grosbeaks and a couple of Black-chinned Hummingbirds are just to the east of this area, between where the road rises to the left over an aqueduct and the end of the pavement. Steve Glover
13 May In El Sobrante / Richmond, 5 Grasshopper Sparrows were in the north end of Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. From San Pablo Dam Rd a short distance east of Appian Way, turn south on Clark Rd. Park at the end of the road and take the trail up the hill. Penny Stewart
6 May In Richmond, a basic-plumaged Red Phalarope was at Point Isabel Regional Shoreline, feeding in the moat near the base of the breakwater. 2 Oldsquaws were still at Brooks Island - park near the harbormaster's office at the end of Marina Way, walk toward the bay, and scope toward Brooks Island. Steve Glover
5 May At Mount Diablo State Park, a singing male Black-chinned Sparrow was on the south entrance road, just below milepost 3.1. Several Sage Sparrows and Rufous-crowned Sparrows were up the hill from here. Two hybrid Hermit X Townsend's Warblers were at the Blue Oak Picnic Area. Joe Morlan
4 May In eastern Contra Costa County, the Gray Flycatcher was relocated at Piper Slough. From the north end of Bethel Island Rd, walk 0.75 mile left along the dike to where a dirt road cuts sharply back to the left, and follow this dirt road 50 meters to a small locust grove. The usual Blue Grosbeaks, Yellow-breasted Chats, and Black-chinned Hummingbirds all were in the area. Bud Widdowson
3 May In eastern Contra Costa County, a pair of Cassin's Kingbirds were along Piper Slough. From the north end of Bethel Island Rd, walk along the levee to the left. At the most southerly point of the levee, look for an overgrown dirt road dropping down - the kingbirds were seen here with Western Kingbirds. This is the first county record since 1968. A Hermit Warbler and a few Vaux's Swifts also were present. Steve Glover