Reports to the Northern California BirdBox, transcribed for BirdWest by Adam Winer.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
28 January In Oakland, the Black-and-white Warbler continued near the Children's Fairyland sign facing Lake Merritt. Rusty Scalf27 January In Livermore, the Harris' Sparrow has been seen 3 of the last 5 days, typically making 2 visits a day. Art Edwards
26 January A partially albino Dark-eyed Junco was near the corner of Camino Real Bear Valley Rd, in EBMUD lands - an EBMUD permit is required for entrance into this area. Take the Olema Connector Trail down past the creek and into a pine area. Steve Krivel [I'm mystified by this one. I think it might refer to the intersection of Camino Pablo & Bear Creek Rd near Orinda in Contra Costa County, and the Orinda Connector Trail. --Larry]
24 January In Oakland, the Black-and-white Warbler was still at Lake Merritt, in the trees in the vicinity of the Children's Fairyland sign facing the lake. Hugh Harvey
23 January In Oakland, at least 2 Barrow's Goldeneyes were at the south end of Lake Merritt. Luke Cole
21 January In Livermore, the Harris' Sparrow continues to be seen (not every day) at a private residence on Davis Way. Art Edwards
19 January In Oakland, the Black-and-white Warbler was seen near Children's Fairyland at Lake Merritt. Kirk Swenson
19 January In Newark, the Peregrine Falcon was seen again along Thornton Ave near the Marshlands Rd entrance to the wildlife refuge. Mark Evans
16 January In Livermore, the Harris' Sparrow was seen again on private property along Davis Way (it was not visible from the street). It had not been seen on 15 January. It is mostly seen in the early mornings and late afternoons. Art Edwards
16 January In Newark, a Peregrine Falcon was on the eastern margin of Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge along Thornton Ave, near the Marshlands Rd entrance to the refuge. Mark Evans
14 January In Livermore, a Harris' Sparrow was seen from inside a private residence on Davis Way, not far from Robert Livermore Park. Art Edwards
14 January In the Hayward Hills, up to 2 male and 1 female Cassin's Finches were feeding on sunflower seeds below a feeder in a backyard on W Camino Vista off East Ave, at the bottom of the loop. These birds have been seen since 12 January. Kevin Hintsa
14 January In Livermore, an "Aleutian" Canada Goose was at Springtown Lake. From Hwy 580, take Springtown Blvd north (this is the northern continuation of N 1st St) and turn right at the first intersection on Bluebell Dr. At the second intersection on Bluebell, the lake is on your left. North of Livermore, a Ferruginous Hawk was at the intersection of N Livermore Ave & May School Rd. Mike Feighner
14 January In Hayward, a Cliff Swallow and a Northern Rough-winged Swallow were highly unseasonal birds in a flock of four swallow species at Hayward Regional Shoreline. Bob Richmond, fide Steve Glover
13 January In Oakland, the Black-and-white Warbler was still at Lake Merritt, feeding in oaks and a lone cypress on the north end of Children's Fairyland, just behind the Fairyland sign that faces to the lake. Luke Cole
11 January East of Livermore, 8 Mountain Bluebirds were at milepost 5.6 along Patterson Pass Rd. Mike Feighner
10 January In Oakland, the Black-and-white Warbler was still at Lake Merritt, in the Monterey pine overhanging the path on the west side of Children's Fairyland. Bob Brandriff
6 January In Oakland, a Black-and-white Warbler was at the north end of Lake Merritt, in oak trees west of Chidlren's Fairyland and just south of the inflowing channel that passes the Veteran's Building. David French
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
29 January Near Byron, an adult Bald Eagle, a male Eurasian Wigeon, and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers were at the Clifton Court Forebay. Light is best in the afternoon. Steve Glover28 January Near Martinez, a pair of Blue-winged Teal were in Shell Marsh. In east Contra Costa County, an adult Ferruginous Hawk was along Holland Tract Rd, 3 Burrowing Owls were at the end of Byron Hot Springs Rd, and about 1,000 Tundra Swans and a few Snow Goose were in a fallow corn field north of the end of Orwood Rd. George Finger
26 January See entry in Alameda County above.
16 January In Richmond, an Oldsquaw was near Brooks Island, viewed from the end of Marina Bay Pkwy. Near Martinez, a Barn Swallow was at Shell Marsh. A Blue-winged Teal and a Eurasian Wigeon are wintering here. Steve Glover
15 January In Walnut Creek, a Merlin was at the corner of N Wiget Ln & Lennon Ln in the South Shadelands Business Park. Maury Stern
13 January In east Contra Costa County, 30 Sandhill Cranes and a Rough-legged Hawk were along Holland Tract Rd. A Short-eared Owl was on Byron Hot Springs Rd, 0.2 mile south of Holey Rd, which runs west from Hwy J4. George Finger
6 January In Walnut Creek, the immature Harris' Sparrow was refound at the end of Pine Creek Rd. From Ygnacio Valley Rd, go south on Oak Grove Rd, then bear right (still south) on Castle Rock Rd toward Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area. Just past the high school on the right, turn right on Pine Creek Rd and go less than 0.5 mile to an "End of Public Road" sign. Park here and look for the bird. Near Antioch, a male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was at the Nortonville side of Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve - the wide-open nature of this area makes this bird extremely difficult to find. George Finger
3 January Near Byron, an adult male Tufted Duck was with 1,600 scaup at Clifton Court Forebay. From Hwy J4, turn onto Clifton Court Rd just south of the town of Byron, and park at the end. The bird was halfway across the forebay. In the afternoon, the sun will be at your back. In the morning, it would be best to bicycle or take an hour to walk around to the other side of the reservoir. Near Bethel Island, 12 Cattle Egrets were at the intersection of Bethel Island Rd & Cypress Rd. Steve Glover