Reports to the Northern California BirdBox, transcribed for BirdWest by Adam Winer.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
28 March In Alameda, a Red-necked Grebe was at the Alameda South Shore. Mike Donald19 March In the Oakland Hills, a female Cassin's Finch was in a backyard in the 6500 block of Exeter Dr, near Skyline Blvd. John Luther
18 March In Hayward, a Short-eared Owl was flying over the marsh north of the Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center (it was seen from the trail west of the center). Jean Richmond
16 March In Hayward, a pair of Cassin's Finches were still visiting a feeder in a backyard, where this species has been seen since January. Kevin Hintsa
16 March In Oakland, a first-year Glaucous Gull was at Lake Merritt, seen first at the Rotary Nature Center, and later at the outflow channel. Lena Prairie
12 March South of Livermore, 2 adult Bald Eagles were at the nest in the large gray pine near the top of the hill across Lake Del Valle from Hetch Hetchy Camp. Jean Richmond
6 March In Alameda, a male Tufted Duck was at the northwest end of the Oakland International Airport, with a scaup flock in the diked pond between Harbor Bay Pkwy and the bay. From Dolittle Dr, go south on Harbor Bay Pkwy, between the golf course and the airport. Continue past the pond on the left, make a U-turn at the next gap in the center divider, and then back to the pond. Lighting conditions are best in the morning, but the bird was seen at 1 PM. This bird was in first-winter plumage (dingy sides, short tuft, but the back was black). Jean Richmond
4 March In Oakland, the Black-and-white Warbler continued at Lake Merritt, with a mixed flock in the trees just outside the entrance to Children's Faryland. Florence Bennett
4 March In Oakland, the Cattle Egret was still present at Lake Merritt, foraging on the lawn across the street from the Rotary Nature Center with some Canada Geese. Tom Condit
2 March South of Livermore, two adult Bald Eagles were seen at Del Valle Regional Park. From the entrance gate, take a right, and park by the boat launching ramp at the end of the paved road. Walk about 0.5 mile up the East Shore Trail to the Hetch Hetchy Camp. The eagles were perched next to the nest they used last year, in a large Gray Pine near the top of the hill across the lake. East of Livermore, 3 Mountain Bluebirds were just west of milepost 5.29 on Patterson Pass Rd, and 2 more were on Midway Rd, between Patterson Pass Rd and Hwy 580. Joe & Jeff Morlan
2 March In Berkeley, an immature Ferruginous Hawk passed twice over Cesar Chavez Park at the marina, just off Marina Blvd. In Oakland, one male and 3 female Blue-winged Teal were at Arrowhead Marsh [Martin Luther King Jr Regional Shoreline]. Charles Davis
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
29 March In Richmond, 2 Oldsquaws were near Brooks Island. In the eastern county, 3 Black Rails were calling at Piper Slough. From the north end of Bethel Island Rd, walk onto the levee, turn left, walk a few hundred yards, and look in the marsh on the left. Near Byron, Short-eared Owls are easy to see in the Byron Hot Springs Area. From Hwy J4 south of Byron, turn onto Holey Rd and continue straight to the intersection with Byron Hot Springs Rd, where 3 have been seen regularly. Steve Glover13 March Near Martinez, 2 Blue-winged Teals were at Shell Marsh [McNabney Marsh]. Maty Lichen