Reports to the Northern California BirdBox, transcribed for BirdWest by Adam Winer.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
31 May Southeast of Livermore along Mines Rd, several Phainopeplas were at milepost 5.75, a Greater Roadrunner was calling at milepost 5.83, a female Wild Turkey was at milepost 8.57, and 2 Rufous-crowned Sparrows were at milepost 5.75. Mike Feighner27 May Southeast of Livermore along Mines Rd, a pair of Phainopeplas were at milepost 5.75, and another pair were at milepost 5.91 with a singing Rufous-crowned Sparrow. Three Red-tailed Hawk chicks were in the nest below milepost 5.24. Jean Richmond
21 May Southeast of Livermore along Mines Rd, 3 Greater Roadrunners were between mileposts 1.316 and 9.38. A singing Rufous-crowned Sparrow was at milepost 9.30. Two pairs of Phainopeplas, one at a nest with young, were at milepost 5.91. A Red-tailed Hawk nest with 3 young was visible by looking down into the canyon from near milepost 5.24. Florence Bennett
20 May In Oakland, a Black Swift was flying along the north edge of Lake Merritt, at the intersection of Harrison & 20th near Snow Park. Bob Hirt
18 May Southeast of Livermore along Mines Rd, Phainopepla were at mileposts 4.7 and 5.91. Two Rufous-crowned Sparrows were at milepost 9.3, and 2 more were at Lake Del Valle. The pair of Bald Eagles has returned to the nest at Lake Del Valle, viewed from Hetch Hetchy Campground. From the boat launch ramp area, take the trail 0.5 mile toward the campground - the nest is just across the lake. Les Chibana
17 May Southeast of Livermore, a Greater Roadrunner was at milepost 7.0 along Mines Rd. Steve Rottenborn
13 & 14 May In El Cerrito, a few Red Crossbills were coming to a sunflower seed feeder in the 600 block of Richmond St. Larry Tunstall
12 May East of Livermore, a Burrowing Owl was on Patterson Pass Rd, 0.2 mile east of milepost 4.88. Blue Grosbeaks were still at mileposts 5.91 and 6.3. Steve Cribble
4 May East of Livermore, 3 Blue Grosbeaks were along Patterson Pass Rd. Singing males were at mileposts 5.90 and 7.14, and females were at 6.21 and 6.97. Rich Cimino
3 May Southeast of Livermore, a pair of Phainopeplas were at milepost 5.75 on Mines Rd. Hugh Harvey
2 May In Berkeley, a Tropical Kingbird was at the intersection of Grant & Oregon Sts, sallying from wires around the playing field near the school on Oregon St. It could not be relocated later in the day. Joe Eaton
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
24 May In Mount Diablo State Park, 2 Black-chinned Sparrows and 2 Sage Sparrows were just off Summitt Rd above the paved road just above the Oak Knoll Picnic Area. Jean Richmond10 May South of Clayton in Mount Diablo State Park, a Black-and-white Warbler was in an oak tree on the north side of White Canyon Road Trail, a few hundred yards up from where it meets Mitchell Canyon Road Trail. Along White Canyon, about 0.5 mile farther up, was a Rufous-crowned Sparrow. J D Phillips
8 May In eastern Contra Costa County at Piper Slough (north end of Bethel Island Rd) were 3 or 4 Black-chinned Hummingbirds, 2 male and a female Blue Grosbeak, several Hooded Orioles, and several heard-only Yellow-breasted Chats. George Finger
7 May In the Berkeley Hills, 2 Common Poorwills were heard at dusk on the Big Springs Trail in Tilden Regional Park. Bob Brandriff
3 May In Mount Diablo State Park, a singing Canyon Wren was at the Devil's Slide area along South Gate Rd, 0.1 mile below the kiosk. A singing male Grasshopper Sparrow was at Curry Point. Kevin Hintsa
2 May In Mount Diablo State Park, 6 singing Black-chinned Sparrows, as well as Sage Sparrows and Rufous-crowned Sparrows, were along South Gate Rd between milepost 2.16 and the entrance kiosk. Sage Sparrows were also just off Summit Rd along the fire road just past the Blue Oak and Oak Knoll picnic areas. A Hermit Warbler was at Junction Campground. Florence Bennett